With early voting underway, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis targets abortion rights amendment in statewide tour

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis ramped up his all-out onslaught Tuesday against Florida’s abortion rights ballot initiative, bringing a statewide tour to Central Florida with early voting underway and a new poll showing Amendment 4 passing by a razor-thin margin.

DeSantis and anti-abortion doctors brought their message to The Grove Bible Chapel in Winter Garden, urging Floridians to reject the amendment he called “intentionally vague and deceptive.”

“When people actually peel back the onion and see what it is, they don’t like it,” he said, backed by a group of physicians in white coats.

If approved by at least 60% of voters, Amendment 4 would protect abortion access until viability, usually about 24 weeks into pregnancy, or when deemed medically necessary by a woman’s health care provider. The amendment would undo the six-week abortion ban DeSantis signed into law last year.

DeSantis and his allies said the measure fails to define key terms, such as “health care provider” and “viability.” He also warned that Amendment 4 could undo a law requiring parental consent for minors to have an abortion. Amendment 4 would leave intact a requirement that parents be notified if a child seeks an abortion, but it is silent on parental consent. Critics say the amendment could be used to challenge Florida’s parental consent law in court, while supporters say the fact that Amendment 4 does not address the issue means the existing consent law would stand.

DeSantis kicked off his current tour on Monday in Coral Gables. Speaking at that event, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez called upon Christians to turn out to defeat the abortion amendment.

“We cannot go to church and pray like Christians and turn around and vote like atheists,” she told the crowd.

The tour also included a stop in Jacksonville Tuesday morning.

Floridians, including those in Orange County, began early voting Monday for the Nov. 5 election.

Supporters of Amendment 4 slammed the event, calling it a “propaganda tour” that they say ignores the reality of Florida’s abortion ban. Many of the doctors supporting the governor don’t deal directly with abortion care or women’s health care, said Dr. Samantha Baer, a Tampa OB-GYN and abortion provider.

“Florida’s extreme ban threatens to put doctors in jail for providing the best care,” she said. “Right now, some women are not being provided that care until they are on the brink of death.”

Anti-abortion doctors appearing with DeSantis said they think Florida law has provisions needed to protect women’s health, and they are concerned Amendment 4 would limit the government’s ability to craft regulations related to abortion.

“It is too extreme, too radical and simply goes too far,” said Dr. Tamberly McCarus, a Florida OB-GYN supporting DeSantis.

Florida’s six-week ban includes exceptions to save the life of the mother or if a “fatal fetal abnormality is detected.” It also allows exceptions for rape and incest up to 15 weeks of pregnancy if a woman shows proof, such as a police report.

DeSantis has wielded state resources to battle the abortion rights amendment. The state’s Agency for Health Care Administration launched a taxpayer-funded website proclaiming that Amendment 4 “threatens women’s safety.” The Florida Department of Health sent a letter to broadcasters threatening criminal prosecution if they didn’t stop airing a pro-amendment 4 ad.

A federal judge slammed state officials over that move and issued a temporary restraining order barring them from interfering with the commercials. The health department’s top lawyer, John Wilson, resigned over the memo, which he said in a court affidavit was written under his name by lawyers for DeSantis.

A University of North Florida poll released on Monday shows Amendment 4 has the support of 60% of likely voters, barely enough to pass.

That’s down from 69% support in July.

“It looks like the fate of abortion in Florida will come down to turnout on Election Day,” said Michael Binder, a University of North Florida political science professor.

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(South Florida Sun Sentinel staff writer Cindy Goodman contributed to this report.)

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