ANN ARBOR, MI -- Democratic presidential hopeful Amy Klobuchar said states passing legislation to limit access to abortions are using women’s reproductive rights as a “political pawn.”

During a visit to Ann Arbor Saturday, the Minnesota senator told MLive.com Republican-led state legislatures, including Michigan’s, are emboldened by the possibility of Roe v. Wade being overturned. Klobuchar has been outspoken on new anti-abortion legislation in Georgia, Alabama and Missouri, calling them a “coordinated attack on women’s health care” and an “attempt to turn back the clock."

“Now (states) are basically trying to run the tables and literally eliminate a women’s right to choose, and I think there’s going to be a huge backlash if they continue,” Klobuchar. “They seem to be marching from one state to another trying to do this.”

We are entering very dangerous territory with these attacks on reproductive rights. Republicans are setting up a fight at the Supreme Court to take away crucial access to women’s health care. We’ve got to keep fighting these attacks. — Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) May 17, 2019

Republicans in the Michigan House and Senate each passed their own version of legislation that would make it a felony to perform dilation and evacuation abortions this week. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer promised to veto the measure, though Right to Life of Michigan filed paperwork this week to start a statewide ballot petition drive regardless of its support from the governor.

Klobuchar said the U.S. abortion rate has been declining for decades due to government-funded contraception and family planning services.

The Trump administration’s attempts to block family planning funds for Planned Parenthood and weaken birth control coverage guaranteed by the Affordable Care Act will make it more difficult for women to have children on their own terms, Klobuchar said.

“Both people who are pro-life and pro-choice would like to see less abortions,” Klobuchar said.

Klobuchar was in Michigan for a panel discussion with U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, about closing loopholes that allow abusers to buy and own firearms if they are not married to their victim.

The former Minnesota prosecutor pressed the need for Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which provides resources and protection for domestic violence survivors.

Dingell said she “deeply respects” Klobuchar, and introduced the Senator as a friend of her late husband, longtime Michigan Congressman John Dingell.

Klobuchar made her first Michigan appearance two weeks ago, speaking at a Detroit event hosted by the National Organization of Black County Officials. She headed back to Detroit Saturday to speak at a Michigan Democratic Party women’s caucus lunch.

Democrats vying for their party’s nomination recognize the state will play a vital role in the 2020 election. After President Donald Trump narrowly flipped Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania -- all states that voted for President Barack Obama -- in 2016, both parties see the Midwest states as key battlegrounds.

Klobuchar is the first candidate to visit Washtenaw County. Other Democratic presidential hopefuls to visit Michigan include U.S. Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.Y.; Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.; Kamala Harris, D-Calif. and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-Texas, businessman Andrew Yang and author Marianne Williamson.

Trump and Vice President Mike Pence also visited Michigan in March and April, stressing their administration’s positive impact on the state economy. Pence traveled to Michigan and Wisconsin to campaign for the United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement, which would replace the North American Free Trade Agreement, if ratified by Congress.

So far, Klobuchar is staking a more moderate approach among the crowded field of Democratic opponents.

She does not favor a “Medicare for All” health care plan proposed by other candidates and dismissed the idea of funding free tuition for students at public colleges and universities.

Klobuchar’s primary platform is focused on advancements for the middle class, according to campaign staff. Klobuchar, 58, described herself as “Heartland Amy" during a recent Fox News town hall in Milwaukee.

While in Michigan, Klobuchar outlined a plan to invest $1 trillion in infrastructure projects across the country. It’s her top budget priority for the first year, if elected.

Klobuchar said she wasn’t aware of Whitmer’s proposal to fund Michigan’s crumbling roads by hiking the state gas tax by 45 cents. However, Klobuchar said her plan would provide states with much-needed relief.

She said it would repair roads, highways and bridges, provide protection against flooding, modernize airports, expand public transit and passenger rail, rebuild public schools, connect rural homes to high speed internet, improve public utilities and invest in energy efficiency buildings.

“This is a smart way to help Michigan water systems like in Flint, but also road, bridges and transit,” she said.

Klobuchar also plans to establish an independent, nonpartisan infrastructure financing authority to help states better leverage private funds to build and maintain outdated infrastructure.

To pay for it, Klobuchar proposes making reforms to the corporate tax structure, including adjusting the corporate tax rate to 25% from 21%. Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act cut the corporate tax rate from 35%.

Michigan county officials applauded the infrastructure plan during a May campaign stop in Detroit.

Trump met with Democratic congressional leaders in late April to discuss a separate $2 trillion infrastructure plan. The president expressed interest in raising the federal gas tax by 25 cents in 2018, but the White House hasn’t released any new information on how it would fund the massive infrastructure package.

Last year, Trump sought $200 billion for infrastructure in his budget proposal.

Klobuchar said the president “keeps talking a good game," but has failed to fund any meaningful investment in infrastructure.

This month, she also unveiled a $100 billion plan to reduce substance abuse and increase supports for mental health resources. Klobuchar’s plan includes funding for states expand recovery services and would mandate the use of prescription drug monitoring programs by doctors and pharmacists.

The plan is partially based on legislation introduced by Michigan U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, to expand funding for community behavioral health clinics.

The inevitable question for the crowded primary field is who has the best shot at defeating Trump.

A March Emerson College poll found Klobuchar among the top candidates who could take on Trump in the general election. She came out on top of a hypothetical head-to-head matchup 53% to 47%.