Margolies takes aim at Boyle's record

Though there are still four Democrats vying for Allyson Schwartz's seat in Congress, Marjorie Margolies was focused Thursday on Rep. Brendan Boyle.

Saying she believed that the 13th District congressional race would come down to a choice between her and Boyle, she took aim at her opponent's record on abortion.

"The difference between us is, he is anti-choice, and I am pro-choice," she said, speaking at a sparsely attended news conference in Norristown.

Boyle has been criticized for supporting bills that strengthened regulations on abortion providers, including Act 122, which called for renovations to health centers and led to the closure of several Pennsylvania clinics.

Ken Snyder, Boyle's senior advisor, called the attacks "misleading" and said Boyle supported the bill in order to make abortions safer.

"[Boyle] supports Roe v. Wade," he said.

Also Thursday, two national, Washington-based pro-choice organizations released a statement urging voters not to support Boyle. Samantha Gordon, of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said the group, along with Emily's Choice, planned to spend close to six figures on mailings and other strategies to attack Boyle's record on women's issues.

"We want people to know that there are solidly pro-choice candidates in this race," she said.

NARAL has not endorsed a candidate, she said.

The other candidates in the race, State Sen. Daylin Leach and Valerie Arkoosh, also have criticized Boyle for his voting record on abortion.

Aren Platt, a senior advisor to Leach's campaign, disputed that the field was narrowing to Margolies and Boyle.

"This is a very tight race," he said. "[Margolies] clearly feels she needs to do something to make waves."