The anti-abortion organization has no immediate plans to attack any of the seven Republicans, but it is playing positive radio spots thanking New Hampshire’s 1st district Rep. Frank Guinta (R), who split with Bass on the Pence amendment.
Dannenfelser acknowledged the Guinta ad would likely be heard in Bass’ district — which is generally considered the more moderate of the two — given New Hampshire’s size.
“I’m hoping that he hears those ads. ... People like Bass could move the right way,” she said.
It’s much the same situation for Dold, who survived a crowded GOP primary last year in Illinois’ 10th district, where Obama captured 61 percent of the vote in 2008. There is no Republican in Congress serving a district where Obama earned a higher percentage of the vote.
“Illinois’ 10th District has a long history of being represented by socially moderate Republican Congressmen going back 30 years with former Reps. John Porter and Mark Kirk,” Dold said in a statement provided to Roll Call. “I am a social moderate and fiscal conservative and fit that mold as well.”
Dold added that each of the seven candidates in his packed Republican primary last year were social moderates.
Most of the Republicans faced only token opposition in 2010 primary election contests, although Bass’ race was relatively close. Neither Hanna nor Biggert faced a primary challenger last cycle.
Dold went so far as to publicly voice his opposition to the Pence amendment on the House floor during last month’s debate, becoming the only one of the Republican dissidents to do so.
He said blocking funding for Planned Parenthood would be “shortsighted and would negatively impact the lives of women who depend on these health care services.”
Dold’s and Biggert’s position on the funding was not lost on Bill Beckman, executive director of the Illinois Right to Life Committee.
“The irony is that when they had the final bill passage, they flipped. Both voted for it. We’re playing games here in reality,” Beckman said.
“Which is better: that they voted against the amendment and for the final bill, or vice versa? I’ll tolerate those Republicans if they vote the final bill the right way, even if they want to throw a bone to Planned Parenthood that doesn’t count.”
And just as the Illinois anti-abortion community offered a relatively positive review for those Republicans who supported keeping the funding, so did Planned Parenthood itself.
“These seven Republicans are where the majority of voters are — opposed to efforts to bar Planned Parenthood from receving federal funds,” Planned Parenthood spokesman Tait Sye said. “These folks are in pretty much swing districts. So they are in the middle of the middle, which is where a ‘yes’ vote on Pence could be damaging.”
That said, don’t expect Planned Parenthood’s political action committee to endorse any of the seven anytime soon. Endorsements require a 100 percent pro-abortion-rights voting record, which few Republicans will likely earn, according to Sye.
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