Connie Saltonstall, a former teacher and county commissioner whose twin passions are health care reform and women's choice, who has spent the last 20 years voting for Representative Bart Stupak (D-MI) because he wasn't Republican, is now going to run against him because she says his abortion stance has "crossed the line." Saltonstall is in the process of gathering the 1,000 signatures needed to get her name on the August ballot. Reports TPM:

"That has happened not only with me but with many Democrats in the district," she said. Saltonstall told [TPM] her phone has been ringing off the hook with calls of support from inside the massive 31-county district.

Saltonstall says she's been receiving calls from national groups willing to help her mount a successful financial campaign against the pro-life Democrat. The Stupak amendment, which was tied to the House health care reform bill, was a dense, anti-choice nightmare. Now the congressman is threatening to drum up 12 democratic votes against the Senate bill unless the abortion language is similarly changed. Saltonstall would be Stupak's first challenger on the primary ballot since 2000. It's about fucking time.