Liberal groups backing Stupak challenger

Rep. Bart Stupak has certainly raised his public profile in recent months with the positions he’s taken on abortion and health care reform, but with that visibility also comes vocal opposition. And it can’t be surprising that the liberal interest groups are lining up behind Connie Saltonstall, who has announced a challenge to Stupak in this year’s Democratic primary.

Politico reports that the National Organization for Women is officially backing Saltonstall and that defeating Stupak is the organization’s “highest priority.”

NOW President Terry O’Neill told POLITICO her organization intended to mobilize its chapters in Michigan to support former Charlevoix County Commissioner Connie Saltonstall, who announced a challenge to Stupak last week as the congressman threatened to block a health care bill due to concerns about its language governing funding for abortion.

“Bart Stupak, colluding with the Catholic bishops, is trying to shut down women’s access to a very important form of health care,” O’Neill said Wednesday, describing Saltonstall as a potential ally on a host of issues. “She will work with us to repeal the Hyde Amendment. She will work to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. She supports the Equal Rights Amendment.”

O’Neill said defeating Stupak was her “highest priority,” along with supporting a challenger to Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), who worked with Stupak to craft an amendment that would have imposed strict limits on abortion funding.

In addition, ActBlue, an organization that raises money online for Democratic candidates, has opened a page for people to donate to her campaign — and so far they’ve raised more than $40,000 for her. And the Blue America PAC is also endorsing Saltonstall in her challenge to Stupak.