Eric Schneiderman went to the steps of City Hall today to receive the endorsement of former Attorney General Robert Abrams, which, since they both are Democrats can be something of a dog-bites-man story, but is more significant today because it shows that the Schneiderman campaign continues to hammer away at his Republican opponent Dan Donovan over the issue of a woman’s right to choose.
Both Abrams and Schneiderman made the choice issue central in their remarks today, with Abrams touting his record of bringing cases against those who impeded access to health centers where abortions were performed, and bringing litigation against Operation Rescue, a pro-life group that harasses pro-choice proponents.
“It is important to have in the office of attorney general someone who is sensitive to [the abortion] issue, understands that there is a threat and is ready to utilize all of the powers of the office to keep Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right-to-choose right there for all the women in the state of New York,” Abrams said.
“I will never stop fighting to protect a woman’s right to choose, and as the attorney general has just stated, the attorney general of the state of New York plays a critical role in effecting freedom of choice,” Schneiderman said. “On my watch I will be every bit as aggressive and every bit as creative as Bob Abrams was…in defending freedom of choice.”
Donovan has said that he is personally pro-life, but that he will enforce the laws of the state. His campaign has called the abortion question settled law and a non-issue for the attorney general.
Schneiderman was also asked if he thought that the attorney general’s office should investigate Vito Lopez, the Brooklyn Democratic powerbroker who is being investigated by city and federal officials for alleged corruption involving his non-profit.
“I can’t comment on that. Because there may be an investigation going on right now. I don’t know. I don’t know. Certainly the news is troubling.”
UPDATE:
The Schneiderman campaign quickly emailed after this posting went live to point out that previously Schneiderman has said he would investigate Lopez if the facts warrented it.
