Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a White House hopeful who has sought the political middle on abortion, on Wednesday criticized Republicans for trying to erode access to birth control for women.

"There’s a quiet war going on in America - against the most basic rights of Americans to make their own personal decisions about family planning," Clinton wrote in a mass e-mail from her re-election campaign.

The New York senator complained that the Bush administration and congressional Republicans are whittling away at contraception options, particularly for poor women who rely on government-funded programs.

The senator cited statistics showing that low-income women are having four times as many unwanted pregnancies as higher income women and half of all unwanted pregnancies end in abortions.

Republicans accused Clinton of seeking to enlarge federal programs.

"Once again, Hillary Clinton demonstrates that her top priority is increasing both the size and scope of the government," said Republican National Committee spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt.

Clinton’s campaign letter asks supporters to sign a petition protesting curbs on family planning services, and also links to a donation Web page.

Read it all here