WASHINGTON, D.C.—Planned Parenthood says pro-abortion Republicans played a “decisive role” in defeating “anti-choice extremist” Pat Toomey’s bid to unseat Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania’s Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. The pro-abortion group claims that mail and phone calls to its supporters made the difference in Specter’s 5149 percent victory.

Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania claims to have contacted more than 39,000 pro-abortion Republicans, urging them to support Specter in the primary. In a press release, Planned Parenthood said Specter defeated Toomey by an estimated 16,000 votes, “indicating the messages about Toomey’s anti-choice record may have been key to his defeat.”

LDI President Douglas R. Scott said that Planned Parenthood is well known for taking credit for every success, even when there is little or no evidence that the group had anything whatsoever to do with it. Nevertheless, Planned Parenthood hopes to use the unsubstantiated claim to frighten politicians. “Toomey’s defeat serves as yet another example of the resonance Planned Parenthood’s pro-choice, pro-family planning messages have with moderate Republican and independent swing voters,” its press release said.

Many pro-life people were appalled that President George W. Bush interfered in the primary by endorsing rabidly pro-abortion Specter, as did Senator Rick Santorum, R-Penn. It was these endorsements that probably made the difference for Specter. “No pro-life person with any sense of decency and justice would even think of trying to justify voting for Specter in November,” Scott said.