AFP, Washington :Planned Parenthood, the influential US women’s health care provider savaged by anti-abortion Republicans who want to shut it down, said Thursday it was backing Hillary Clinton for president.The move will be a political and funding boon for the former secretary of state, who is a strong supporter of Planned Parenthood, which said its advocacy organizations would spend at least $20 million in the 2016 election cycle to help elect the Democratic frontrunner.It is the first time the 100-year-old organization is endorsing a candidate in the primary process, which kicks off in three weeks in the heartland state of Iowa.An official endorsement announcement will be made Sunday in New Hampshire, the group said.”We’re proud to endorse Hillary Clinton for president of the United States,” Planned Parenthood Action Fund president Cecile Richards said in a statement.”No other candidate in our nation’s history has demonstrated such a strong commitment to women or such a clear record on behalf of women’s health and rights.”
