Gallup: More Americans Love Babies than Hate Them
From a new 5/7-5/10 Gallup poll, more Americans are pro-life than they are pro-choice by a margin of 51% - 42%. Gallup has been asking this question annualy since 1995 and this is the first time that a majority of respondants have considered themselves pro-life. Notably, the Gallup results also support recent findings by Pew Research that tracked a similar attitude shift in the population on the issue of abortion.
As for how people view the legality of abortion, here’s how the results broke down:
Numbers can tell you a lot of things. Here, it’s obvious that just in the course of a year, 5 percent fewer people believe abortion should be legal in any circumstances while 5 percent more believe it should be illegal in all circumstances. Pro-choice advocates can still point to the 74% of the population that still believes abortion should remain a viable alternative at least in some circumstances, if not most. In other words, Roe v. Wade is still in accordance with the public’s stance on abortion. It is clear, however, that the 2008 national election has shifted more conservatives and moderates into the pro-life camp:
“With the first pro-choice president in eight years already making changes to the nation’s policies on funding abortion overseas, expressing his support for the Freedom of Choice Act, and moving toward rescinding federal job protections for medical workers who refuse to participate in abortion procedures, Americans — and, in particular, Republicans — seem to be taking a step back from the pro-choice position. However, the retreat is evident among political moderates as well as conservatives.
Looks like the GOP has a glimer of hope to rally around again. Joy.
Notes:
