Pro-Life Group Sends Over The Top Mailer

There are always some constants in the last days of October. Leaves fall from the trees, kids dress up in Halloween costumes and political groups send out wildly over-the-top attacks to voters.

The latest is a mailer in Iowa first reported by Evan McMorris-Santoro of Buzzfeed that was sent out by Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life advocacy group. It is labeled “PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT" on the envelope and also says “the enclosed contains information related to a public health hazard threatening citizens (especially children) across Iowa." Although you might think the public health hazard would be something like the Ebola virus or chemical spill, it turns out the threat is just that Bruce Braley, the Democratic nominee for Senate, is pro-choice.

The letter attacks Braley for having “willingly voted for extreme measures that threaten the lives of unborn children.” It goes on to say “Congressman Bruce Braley supports abortion on demand at any time, for any reason, all paid for by Iowa taxpayers” in all bold letters. It then states “The record is clear: Bruce Braley’s extreme positions create a public health hazard for babies across Iowa.” This final statement is both in bold and underlined.

Susan B. Anthony List did not respond to a request for comment from The Daily Beast and neither did the Ernst and the Braley campaigns. However, one prominent Iowa Democratic operative was left shaking his head at the mailer. "This is typical last-minute shenanigans done by a side that’s obviously desperate,” he said. “Susan B. Anthony List has no shame.”

However, while they may lack shame, they may be backing a winning candidate. Braley is trailing Republican Joni Ernst by a slight margin heading into Election Day.