Melissa Reed

NARAL announces primary endorsements

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:48:12 -0500

NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina has announced its endorsements.

The pro-choice group's political action committee is backing Superintendent June Atkinson, Reps. Angela Bryant of Rocky Mount and Tricia Cotham of Charlotte and Sen. Ellie Kinnaird of Carrboro.

All four face primary opponents and have a history of supporting NARAL's legislative goals.

Executive Director Melissa Reed noted that the 2008 elections are the 35th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision.

"NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina plans to lead the way in building a pro-choice voting block to elect pro-choice leaders who will stand up for women’s freedom and privacy," she said in a statement.

NARAL may help bid against Dole

bkrueger — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:43:12 -0400

A national pro-choice group may get involved in next year's U.S. Senate race in North Carolina.

Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said today that the group may donate money and run ads against Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole if her Democratic opponent has strong pro-choice credentials, reports Ryan Teague Beckwith.

"We might get into that race, once we know who the person is who's running against her," said Keenan, who was in Raleigh's Oakwood neighborhood for a fundraiser.

State Sen. Kay Hagan of Greensboro and State Rep. Grier Martin of Raleigh, two Democrats considering the race, both have ties to NARAL's North Carolina chapter.

"We would be thrilled with either candidate," said state director Melissa Reed.

Perdue's choice

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 08:17:56 -0400

Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue spoke at a NARAL fundraiser Tuesday, something that could have caused a few double takes, reports the N&O's Lynn Bonner.

A likely candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor, Perdue hasn't always agreed with the pro-choice group in the past.

She co-sponsored a House bill in 1989 and a Senate bill in 1991 that would require parental consent for minors seeking abortions. As a state senator, she voted for a successful consent bill.

And in a 1996 voter questionnaire, she said she supported abortions only in cases of incest, rape or when the woman's life is in jeopardy.

On the other hand, Melissa Reed, executive director of NARAL, said Perdue has also co-sponsored laws requiring private insurers to cover contraceptives and making it illegal to block clinic doors.

Reed said Perdue told her she supported the parental consent bills in order to keep more restrictive bills from passing.

And Perdue said her views had shifted from when she was the mother of two sons to now, when she also has two young granddaughters. She now calls herself "strongly pro-choice."

"Millions of people have had the same struggle in their head," she said.