By Dave Andrusko
A new national poll released today adds another brick to the foundational truth that Americans are much closer to pro-lifers than pro-abortionists and are strongly opposed to the Democrats’ position that treatment for abortion survivors is up to the mother and the abortionist.
The bulk of the report, which summarized three separate polls taken in 2019, is not about abortion. What it does say, however, is very reassuring.
Respondents were asked in The National General Election Survey poll , “Which of the following views about abortion comes closest to your own?” (The categories are not as discerning as Gallup’s but useful.)
54% say they believe abortion should be illegal in all cases (9%) or illegal in most cases with some exceptions (45%). By contrast 40% believe abortion should either be permitted in all cases (18%) or permitted in some cases (22%). Typically by “some cases,” people mean in instances of rape or incest or threat to the mother’s life.
Especially noteworthy is that among those who identify as Independents, a total of 50% say abortion should be illegal in all cases (6%) or illegal in most cases with some exceptions (40%).
What should be but won’t be disconcerting to Democrats is that the public is overwhelmingly in support of treating abortion survivors which Democrat officeholders adamantly oppose.
In response to the question, “Do you support or oppose requiring doctors to provide medical care to infants who survive an abortion procedure,” a whopping 75% support requiring medical care, including 71% of Democrats.
No other category was lower than 74%-Independents, no college degree, college men, college women, etc. Talk about being out of step with the American public…
NRL News Today has reported on numerous other polls this year all showing strong pro-life support.
In June Gallup concluded that a total of 60% want abortion legal “only in a few circumstances” (39%) or “illegal in all circumstances” (21%)—a big, big jump of 7 points from 2018. Moreover support for life redounded to the benefit of pro-life candidates:
Currently, 26% of pro-choice adults say they will only vote for a candidate who shares their views on abortion, up from 17% in 2016.
However, the matter continues to be more important as a voting issue to pro-life than pro-choice adults, as it has in every Gallup measure since 2004. Thirty-five percent of pro-life adults now say they will only vote for like-minded candidates on the issue, an increase from 23% in 2016.
Likewise, there was the June Morning Consult poll which we summarized thusly:
In other words, a total of 61% said abortion should be illegal in all cases (3%); illegal except for rape, incest, risk to mother’s life (45%); illegal except for rape and incest (5%); or illegal unless there is a risk to the mother’s life (8%)
The Washington Post/ABC News offered one of its tortuously constructed polls intended to reach predetermined goals which is not worth bothering to rehash/rebut.