Planned Parenthood to give Clinton its first-ever primary endorsement

Planned Parenthood is throwing its support behind Hillary Clinton, delivering what will be the organization’s first-ever endorsement in a presidential primary.

“Let’s be clear — reproductive rights and health are on the ballot in 2016,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood.

“This is about so much more than Planned Parenthood. Health care for an entire generation is at stake,” she added. 

We’re excited to announced we’re endorsing @HillaryClinton! She’ll lead on #reprorights. #PPact4Hillary #ImWithHer pic.twitter.com/6EgqzjErqE

— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) January 7, 2016

{mosads}Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination and a staunch supporter of abortion rights, thanked Planned Parenthood for its support.

“I’ll take on Republicans or anyone who tries to interfere with women’s health,” Clinton tweeted. “I am proud to have @PPact’s support in this important election.

“Yesterday was a preview of what would happen under a Republican president,” Clinton wrote, citing House legislation passed Wednesday that would defund Planned Parenthood for one year.

“Every single GOP presidential candidate would defund Planned Parenthood,” the former secretary of State added.

Clinton will officially accept Planned Parenthood’s support during a campaign rally Sunday in Manchester, N.H. Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the nonprofit’s advocacy arm, is making the endorsement.

The action fund plans to spend $20 million on presidential and Senate races this cycle in critical battleground states such as New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The House passed an ObamaCare repeal package 240-181 Wednesday that includes language stripping federal funding from Planned Parenthood for one year. President Obama has vowed to veto the bill.

Conservatives rallied around defunding Planned Parenthood last summer after a series of undercover videos documented its involvement with fetal tissue research.

– This story was updated at 4:23 p.m.