“We can clarify the misconceptions,” Ashley said. “We can clarify the misleading ads and information that they’re hearing.”
Similarly, Harrington said when volunteers inform voters that the proposed amendment would legalize abortion “up until the moment of birth” and parents “would not have the ability to get consent or notification … a good majority of people … would vote ‘no.’”
He said about 72% of volunteer interactions with voters end with the voters saying they will oppose the amendment.
Peter Range, the CEO of Ohio Right to Life, told CNA: “Ohioans’ hearts and minds are being changed on the spot as we go door to door here in Ohio.”
“We will be outspent by millions in advertising from out-of-state groups like Planned Parenthood and others that want taxpayer-funded abortion, but that’s why our church and civic outreach are so important to our campaign,” Range said.
“We are a grassroots effort that believes parents should have a say in the lives of their children and who believe the preborn deserve protections, including when they are in the seventh month of development in the womb and can survive outside of their mother!”
In spite of optimism from pro-life workers, polling has consistently found that most Ohio voters support the amendment, often by 20-point margins or more.
In the most recent Baldwin Wallace University Ohio Pulse Poll, more than 58% of voters, including more than 39% of Republicans, said they support the amendment. Only slightly more than one-third of voters answered that they oppose the amendment.
Pro-life efforts have struggled recently in some states. Last November, Michigan voters adopted an amendment to enshrine abortion rights in their state constitution, with support surpassing 56%. Last year, pro-life ballot initiatives failed in three Republican-dominated states: Kentucky, Kansas, and Montana.
When asked about the polling, Natoce said the language in the polls doesn’t “take into account what is written into Issue 1” or “how extreme Issue 1 is.” She argued that “there’s still absolutely a path to victory in November.”
Similarly, Harrington said, “I think our ground game is better” and “we still think it’s a toss-up.”
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He said they intend to release another advertisement soon, one that will run through Election Day.
“It’s going to be close if we win,” Harrington added, “but we’re fighting like heck.”
Tyler Arnold is a staff reporter for Catholic News Agency, based in EWTN News’ Washington Bureau. He previously worked at The Center Square and has been published in a variety of outlets, including The Associated Press, National Review, The American Conservative, and The Federalist.