Collins Defends Endorsement Suspension against Zoller Camp

Ninth District Candidate Rep. Doug Collins defended claims made by opponent Martha Zoller during a Gilmer County GOP meeting this week. Earlier in the week, the Collins campaign sent out a newsletter with a video clip of Zoller saying,

“I don’t think that abortion should be illegal. But, I think the way we change people’s minds on life issues is not with legislation.”

Zoller’s campaign manager Ryan Mahoney issued a response, stating Zoller’s comments were taken out of context and the clip was designed to mislead voters.

“If they had shown the full statement,”

Mahoney explained,

“viewers would have understood Martha’s point that the real victory for the pro-life movement comes in convincing the hearts and minds of people not just in legislation. This view is shared by many pro life organizations such as Focus on the Family.”

Mahoney also claimed Collins’ endorsement from Georgia Right to Life was suspended because Collins

“was killing pro life legislation in a House Committee at the direction of leadership.”

In response, the Collins campaign issued a statement today with an explanation of the suspension of the endorsements for the 2012 Legislative Session from Georgia Right to Life PAC Director Melanie Crozier. Here, Crozier states:

“The GRTL PAC made the decision to delay all endorsements of current legislators until it was ensured that pro-life legislation was going to be advanced during the 2012 legislative session. While Doug’s endorsement was delayed, GRTL PAC recognizes his pro-life leadership during his time in the GA House and appreciates his work on HB 954.”

Collins Campaign Manager Loree Ann Thompson added,

“Doug’s endorsement by the group has never once been suspended,”

calling remarks made my the Zoller campaign

“blatantly false and inaccurate”

“Our campaign is focused on the real issues that matter to the people of the 9th District, and we will continue to point out the differences between Doug’s consistent conservative record and Martha’s sway-with-the-wind campaign rhetoric,”

Thompson said.

Watch the video of Rep Doug Collins defending his pro-life endorsements.