President Joe Biden said Friday that "it's a sad day for the court and the country" after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide, but he vowed, "the fight is not over." Speaking from the White House shortly after the decision came down, Biden said the Supreme Court "is literally taking America back 150 years," and making the "United States an outlier among developed nations in the world." But he said, "this decision must not be the final word." Biden urged Americans to elect more leaders that will protect womens' rights and the rights to privacy. He said until then, "I will do all in my power to protect a woman's right in states where they will face the consequences of today's decision." Biden and other Democrats hope to use outrage over the court decision to rally voters in November's midterm elections. Although nationwide legislation ensuring access to abortion appears out of reach, more Democratic victories at the state level could limit Republican efforts to ban the practice. The White House has been preparing for this moment since a draft of the decision leaked in May. Officials have been huddling with state leaders, advocates, health care professionals and others to prepare for a future without Roe v. Wade.
