Crist rallies pro-choice voting at campaign stop in West Palm Beach

With four weeks to go before votes are counted, gubernatorial challenger Charlie Crist championed an abortion rights pledge on Tuesday evening in Democratic vote-rich Palm Beach County.

At the Mangonia Park Community Center, Crist implored a room full of Democrats waving pro-choice signage to mobilize their friends, family and neighbors to go out and vote as part of his campaign’s first statewide Choice Day of Action.

The day-long slate of events, including other stops in Florida, focused on reproductive rights, an issue Democrats believe will galvanize their base and draw pro-choice non-Democrats. In addition, Crist’s campaign unveiled new television and digital ads that featured medical professionals criticizing Gov. Ron DeSantis' position on the issue and support for a "disgusting abortion ban that includes no exceptions for victims of rape or incest."

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In Mangonia Park, Crist pledged that if elected he would sign an executive order protecting abortion rights on his first day as governor.

“I will be your champion for the right to choose in Florida,” he said. “And Ron DeSantis needs to know on Nov. 8, his show is over.”

The campaign’s Choice Day of Action included events statewide featuring Crist, running mate Karla Hernandez and others in places like West Palm Beach, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville and Lake Mary.

The South Florida stops were strategic. Despite GOP voter registration gains across Florida, Democrats have a solid edge in voter registrations in the three southeastern counties, and a strong turnout is required for Crist to have a shot at unseating DeSantis.

Crist also received an endorsement from NARAL Pro-Choice America, an abortion rights nonprofit.

Palm Beach Gardens teacher Ellen Baker attended the event holding a sign reading “Abortion is healthcare.” She said she is worried about going down a trajectory where a human right is taken away, which is why she stresses the importance of abortion rights when voting.

“We care about human rights, and abortion is healthcare. I want people to have health care,” Baker said. “I want my students to have access to health care, and abortion is part of that equation.”

Event speakers push that Crist is going to protect Florida’s abortion rights

Other speakers at Tuesday evening's stop said Crist was Florida’s hope for preserving the right to an abortion.

West Palm Beach Commissioner Christina Lambert and Presidential Women’s Club CEO Mona Reis spoke prior to Crist’s entrance to the room of more than 40 people.

Lambert helped echo the importance of a voter’s role in shaping the future for abortion rights in the state.

“We need Charlie and Karla in Tallahassee to protect the rights of Floridians — for women — and to restore true freedom to Florida,” Lambert said.

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Reis said that Roe v. Wade being overturned showed “how important the consequences of electing the wrong people are  — especially appointing them to the Supreme Court." That’s why it’s important for each person in the crowd to make phone calls, help people hitch rides to the polls and talk to anybody they could about the impact of voting in this election, she added.

“I'm really sad that one of the issues that we're talking about today has to do with access to abortion,” Reis said. “I thought we were done with this fifty years ago.”

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Since July, Florida law bans abortion after 15 weeks.

“It is absolutely barbaric,” Crist said. “A barbaric piece of legislation that we need to overturn.”

Crist served as a Republican governor from 2007 to 2011. During the Democratic primary, Crist was criticized by rival Nikki Fried for his earlier support for “pro-life legislative efforts.” Crist insists he vetoed an anti-abortion bill during his term.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Charlie Crist in West Palm Beach promises abortion executive order