(NewsNation) — President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris kicked off their reelection campaign with a rally in suburban Virginia, where they placed abortion rights at the forefront of their agenda.
Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Va., who joined the rally, said in an interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill” that reproductive freedom and democracy were interconnected issues and would be major focal points in the Democratic campaign.
During the rally, Biden criticized former President Donald Trump‘s stance on abortion, noting Trump’s pride in overturning Roe v. Wade and advocacy for punishment for those exercising reproductive freedom.
Biden labeled Trump’s decision a “nightmare” for American women.
Polling data from Decision Desk HQ shows that 8% of voters considered abortion the most important issue in the upcoming 2024 election, with the economy taking the lead at 40%. Despite the statistics, McClellan argued that the Democrats are prioritizing both reproductive rights and the economy in their campaigns.
While acknowledging the importance of economic issues, McClellan said, “Economic opportunity is a critically important aspect of reproductive freedom; they are connected as well.”
She highlighted the anger among women, including herself, about the potential loss of constitutional rights and the diminishing rights of future generations.
When pressed about the potential dominance of economic concerns in the election, McClellan suggested the Democratic campaign would likely address both abortion and economic issues. She emphasized that women across the country were motivated to vote based on their anger over perceived threats to reproductive rights.