Groups supporting, opposing South Dakota abortion ban conducting different campaign strategies

Supporters of a law (HB 1215) banning abortion in South Dakota except to save a woman's life recently have been staging "high-profile" activities throughout the state in their campaign to urge voters to uphold the ban in the November election, Reuters reports.

VoteYesforLife.com, a group supporting the law, this month plans to hold a "Rock for Life" concert for college students; stage fund-raisers called "bucks for babies"; and distribute yard signs, T-shirts and bumper stickers.

"We're really working, and we're focusing," Leslee Unruh, head of VoteYesforLife.com, said. Meanwhile, the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families, a coalition that successfully blocked the July 1 enactment of the ban, recently has been running a "more subdued" door-to-door and telephone campaign calling on voters to overturn the ban, according to Reuters.

"We still think it is winnable, but there is no doubt this is going to be a very tough battle," Sarah Stoesz -- CEO of Planned Parenthood of Minnesota-North Dakota-South Dakota, which opposes the ban -- said.

Both campaigns have released advertisements, and religious leaders on both sides of the referendum have been "speaking out," Reuters reports (Gillam, Reuters, 10/11).