The Ohio Senate primary became a contentious issue with candidate J.D. Vance’s campaign slammed Mike Gibbons, his opponent on abortion, and Gibbons’ team called Vance a “shapeshifter.”
Vance opened the first salvo against Gibbons on Thursday. He referred to an story by the AP from Gibbons’ last Senate run in 2017, about the investment banker “scrambling” to clarify his abortion stance.
Vance stated that Mike Gibbons asked him whether he was prolife. That is the language of proabortion. He claimed he wasn’t pro-life. But he is pro-people. Ladies and gentlemen: Pro-life is pro people, that’s what our position here stands for. You don’t have the right to be a conservative senator for this state if you aren’t willing to defend the unborn.
The Daily Caller first published the video, which was provided by Vance to Fox News.
Samantha Cotten, Gibbons’ spokesperson, responded to the tweet by saying that Vance “is lying” and knows it.
Cotten stated that “this spin was debunked during the 2018 cycle,” in a separate statement to Fox News. J.D. Vance tries to divert attention from his sinking campaign, and past comments against President Trump.
“J.D. Vance is a shapeshifter,” Cotten said.
According to the AP, Gibbons stated that he opposed abortion and supported Planned Parenthood funding. The story was also released shortly after Gibbons began his first ever run for elected office. Wade.”
This interview was following a previous one in which the AP “described Gibbons’ as ‘a pro-people’ individual who’s not dogmatic on social issues'” – Gibbons was “scrambling to clarify” this description in the story.
“Gibbons, a Catholic, initially stated to AP that he opposed abortion, but that he was ‘not a women’ and wouldn’t choose for them. According to AP, he said he was not ‘prochoice’ but ‘pro people’.
Cotten stated that the story was “a misquote of last cycle.”
Vance said that being pro-life doesn’t mean you are strong and can serve the needs of the voters. Therefore, I am proud to be 100% prolife.
Fox News was told by a Vance campaign spokesperson that using pro-abortion language or being squishy about the issue shows conservatives who you really were. You are a coward if you try to turn it around after realizing it’s a weakness in politics. J.D. J.D.
Fox News’ Cotten stated that Mike Gibbons was 100% pro-life.
This election cycle, abortion is an especially important issue as the Supreme Court examines a Mississippi case which could result in Roe v. Wade being reaffirmed. Some Democrats in Congress want to codify Roe in the event that the case is overturned. However, with the Senate split 50-50 Democrats do not have the votes necessary to overcome a filibuster for such a bill.
The GOP primary is to fill the seat that was vacated by retiring Senator. Rob Portman (R-Ohio).
