Heath Mellow, a Democrat running for mayor of Omaha, is facing criticism from pro-choice activists. | AP Photo DNC rally with anti-abortion candidate fuels backlash

The addition of an anti-abortion Nebraska mayoral candidate to a Democratic National Committee “unity tour” sparked blowback from the left on Thursday.

Democrat Heath Mello, a Bernie Sanders-backed candidate for mayor of Omaha, is scheduled to appear with Sanders and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), the DNC's new deputy chair, at a sold-out rally on Thursday.


But Mello's sponsorship of a 2009 state Senate bill to require women be informed of their right to request a fetal ultrasound before obtaining an abortion prompted a leading abortion-rights group to slam the DNC for elevating him.

"The actions today by the DNC to embrace and support a candidate for office who will strip women — one of the most critical constituencies for the party — of our basic rights and freedom is not only disappointing, it is politically stupid," NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue said in a statement.

The popular liberal website Daily Kos also withdrew its endorsement of Mello on Thursday, citing his stance on the ultrasound bill.

Planned Parenthood, however, declined to take aim at the DNC for aligning with Mello, even as it appeared to warn Democrats against embracing restrictions on women's health care.

“Let's be clear: women's health is central to the progressive movement," Planned Parenthood Action Fund spokeswoman Erica Sackin said in a statement. "Planned Parenthood is a nonpartisan organization. We will hold any political party, any candidate for public office, and any elected official accountable for not standing up for reproductive rights."

Mello joins Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly and Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey as self-described anti-abortion Democrats who are getting support from the party this year.

DNC Chairman Tom Perez, who will not appear with Mello in Nebraska, released a statement Thursday that reiterated the party's "support for every woman’s right to make their own choices about their reproductive health and to have access to safe abortion services."

"Our job at the DNC is to help Democrats who have garnered support from voters in their community cross the finish line and win — from school board to Senate," Perez said. "The biggest threat to women's reproductive rights is the relentless Republican attacks on women’s health care, including legal, accessible abortion services."

A DNC spokesman said that Perez has made support for state parties a high priority, adding that Sanders aides and Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb — who is also set to appear with Sanders, Mello and Ellison on Thursday — asked that the Omaha event with Mello be added to the party's "unity tour" schedule.

The budding backlash over Mello comes as Sanders has infuriated other Democrats for not endorsing Georgia House Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff while touring with DNC leaders.

Hogue described Ossoff as "a reproductive freedom candidate who said his campaign was fueled by women. This makes the DNC's actions even more puzzling and troubling."

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Kleeb declined to take issue with NARAL's criticism.

"I understand and respect NARAL standing up for the issue their group is founded on," Kleeb said by email. "As Chair of the Democratic Party, I stand with Democrats who continue to ensure women’s reproductive rights are never restricted, and that life at all levels ... is protected."