Fourth Poll This Month Shows U.S. Public Opinion Trending Pro-Life on Abortion
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 20, 2009
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — The fourth poll released this month has confirmed a definite shift in American public opinion towards the pro-life perspective on abortion. A new Rasmussen Reports poll joins surveys from Gallup, Pew and Fox News in confirming that Americans are taking a decidedly more pro-life position on abortion.
The Rasmussen survey, released on May 5, asked a different question than the others and found that 58 percent of Americans say abortion is morally wrong most of the time. Just twenty-five percent disagree and the rest had no opinion.
The survey found women are more strongly pro-life than men as 64 percent of women believe most abortions are morally wrong, a view shared by just 51% of men.
Of those who identified themselves as pro-life, 88 percent say most abortions are morally wrong as do 29 percent of those who call themselves pro-choice.
Meanwhile, another Rasmussen survey question found a majority of Americans, 52 percent, think it is too easy to get an abortion in America. That’s up seven percent from two years ago when 45 percent thought it was too easy.
Just 13 percent now say it’s too hard to get an abortion, while 21 percent believe the current availability is about right.
Most Republicans (68%) and adults not affiliated with either major party (52%) say abortion is too easy in this country. Among Democrats, 37 percent say it’s too easy, 17 percent too hard and 27 percent about right.
Some 84 percent of pro-life Americans think it’s too easy to get an abortion and even 20 percent of "pro-choice" adults agree. A plurality of those who are pro-choice say the level of difficulty involved is about right. Surprisingly, only approximately one-third of those who call themselves pro-choice say abortions are too difficult to obtain.
The new Rasmussen poll also asked Americans about the recent decision by the Obama administration to allow 17-year-old girls to purchase the morning after pill without consulting with a doctor or getting parental permission.
Some 66 percent of Americans say 17 year-olds should be required to consult a physician before taking the pill while just 27 percent said no.
Another 64 percent of Americans agreed such teenagers should consult a parent before taking the morning after pill while only 30 percent said no.
This national telephone survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted by Rasmussen Reports April 28-29, 2009.
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