In the Illinois legislature, voting present is not that unusual. It can often be a procedural move and often is done as part of a broader strategy by one party or the other, or by a block of legislators on a particular issue. On the abortion vote that Sen. McCain mentions, Obama was one of several Senators who agreed to vote present at the request of Planned Parenthood and other groups supportive of abortion rights. Pam Sutherland, president and CEO of the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council, says Obama voted "present" at least seven times to provide cover to other abortion-rights supporters on such bills as the "Born Alive Infant Protection Act." Certain late term abortions were already banned, as Obama correctly stated.