Gallup poll finds dramatic drop in 'pro-choice' Americans
May 23, 2012
A new Gallup poll finds support for legal abortion at its lowest ebb in America since 2000.
Only 41% of Americans call themselves “pro-choice,” Gallup reports. That figure represents a dramatic drop from last year’s 47%. Meanwhile 50% of respondents described themselves as “pro-life,” approaching the previous high of 51% in May 2009.
Nearly three-fourths of all Americans support legal restrictions on abortion, according to the Gallup results. While 20% say that abortion should be illegal under all circumstances, an additional 52% say that it should be legal only under certain (unspecified) circumstances. Only 25% support the notion that abortion should be allowed under all circumstances, as is currently the case.
The Gallup poll shows a striking 10-point drop in the number of self-identified Democrats who identify themselves as “pro-choice”—from 68 to 58%. Among independent voters, too, the “pro-choice” position lost 10 points of supporting, falling from 51 to 41%. Republicans chose the “pro-life” position by an overwhelming 72-22%.
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