Battleground Colorado enters 2016 with abortion debates

The shooting at a Planned Parenthood and a brutal attack on a pregnant woman in Colorado could fuel more fiery political contests over abortion and reproductive rights in the socially liberal swing state this year.

A U.S. Senate seat and control of the U.S. House delegation is on the line in Colorado, where party affiliation is roughly even between Democrats and Republicans.

Statewide contests often come down to the votes of suburban women who belong to neither party. They generally favor moderate candidates who back conservative spending but also abortion rights.

In the Senate race, Republican Tim Neville kicked off his campaign against Democratic incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet by talking about abortion politics and Planned Parenthood.

Bennet won his last contest against in a tea party favorite in large part because of reproductive rights.