Conflicts over Rep. Bart Stupak's (D-Mich.) antiabortion amendment to the House health reform bill (HR 3962) have helped put the issue of abortion rights at "center stage" in Massachusetts' special election to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D), Politico reports. All four candidates seeking the Democratic nomination support abortion rights and health overhaul efforts, but they have clashed over whether they would have let the legislation advance with Stupak's language. The amendment would prohibit plans in the insurance exchange that receive federal subsidies from covering abortion services.

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, the front-runner in the campaign, said in a recent radio interview that she would have voted against the House health reform bill because of the Stupak amendment. Rep. Michael Capuano, another primary candidate, voted for the House bill and initially criticized Coakley for her stance. However, after backlash from abortion-rights groups, Capuano clarified that he would vote against the final bill if it includes similar restrictions. Capuano argued that Coakley's stance "would have killed the bill, which would have ended the debate and any hope of getting real health care reform."

According to Politico, "All of this is playing out against a gender-tinged background." Though a reliably liberal state, Massachusetts has never elected a female senator, and two recent female nominees for governor both lost their bids. Coakley has earned the endorsement of the only female member of the state's congressional delegation, Rep. Niki Tsongas (D), as well as EMILY's List and other abortion-rights groups. Some of the groups were dismayed over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) decision Friday to endorse Capuano over Coakley, Politico reports.

Sheila Capone Wilson, director of the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus, said she was "disappointed in the fact that the speaker allowed the Stupak amendment to go forward and is now endorsing Capuano." She added, "Capuano is in trouble with women and is now bringing in Pelosi, and I'm not sure that helps his case at this point." Terry O'Neill, president of the National Organization for Women, said, "I have a lot of respect for Nancy Pelosi, but I am distressed over her endorsement of Mr. Capuano. ... And I don't think this endorsement is going to help him." Susan Shaer, the executive director of Women's Action for New Directions, said that she would have preferred Pelosi remain silent about her preferences in the race but added that she does not expect the endorsement to "reverse the damage Capuano has suffered with female voters," according to Politico (Lovley, Politico, 11/17).

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