A new poll conducted by The Polling Company/WomanTrend for National Right to Life indicates that pro-abortion senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes’ abortion position is out of touch with voters.
By an overwhelming 55%-35% margin, voters chose a hypothetical pro-life candidate whose views match those of pro-life Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell over a hypothetical pro-choice candidate whose views match those of Grimes.
Sen. Mitch McConnell has been an outspoken pro-life advocate in the U.S. Senate. In 1999, he voted against an amendment to endorse the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade (10/21/99, Roll Call 337). He has voted numerous times against using tax dollars to pay for abortion, and is a co-sponsor of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (S. 1670), which would ban abortions after 20 weeks, when the unborn child is capable of feeling pain.
In an interview with National Journal, published May 18, 2014, Grimes expressed her opposition to the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, saying “…I’m not for moving backwards from the principles the Supreme Court has set forward.” In an August 2013 article in The Huffington Post Grimes said, “I am supportive of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade.” Grimes has also been endorsed by the pro-abortion PAC, EMILY’s List, which only endorses candidates who, among other criteria, support abortion on demand for any reason and support using tax dollars to pay for abortion.
“Abortion continues to be a key issue with the electorate,” said David N. O’Steen, Ph.D., National Right to Life executive director. “When they learn about the position of the candidates on abortion, voters in election after election side with the pro-life candidate.”
The June poll comes on the heels of an annual survey by Gallup, which found that just 39% were in favor of the current policy of abortion for any reason (the position of Alison Lundergan Grimes), with 28% saying abortion should be legal under any circumstances and 11% saying abortion should be legal under most circumstances. A substantial majority, 58%, believes abortion should be legal in only a few circumstances (37%) or illegal in all circumstances (21%).
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Gallup also asked about only voting for a candidate “who shares your abortion views.” Nineteen percent answered that they would only vote for a candidate who shared their views on the abortion issue, with 11% saying they would vote only for the pro-life candidate and 8% saying they would vote only for the pro-choice candidate.
“It’s clear that most Americans do not support the policy of abortion for any reason that was established by Roe v. Wade,” O’Steen said. “And they will continue to support candidates who reject this extreme policy of abortion for any reason.”
The complete question from The Polling Company follows.
The Polling Company/WomenTrend
Field Dates: June 12-15, 2014
N = 1,014
Margin of Error: +/- 3.1%
CANDIDATE “A” opposes abortion except when the mother’s life is in danger or in cases of rape or incest. This candidate opposes using tax dollars to pay for abortion and supports legislation that would prohibit abortions after 20 weeks when the unborn child can feel pain.
CANDIDATE “B” supports a woman’s choice to have an abortion. This candidate supports using tax dollars to pay for abortion and opposes legislation that would prohibit abortions after 20 weeks.
55% TOTAL SUPPORT CANDIDATE “A” (NET)
32% STRONGLY SUPPORT CANDIDATE “A”
23% SOMEWHAT SUPPORT CANDIDATE “A”
35% TOTAL SUPPORT CANDIDATE “B” (NET)
18% SOMEWHAT SUPPORT CANDIDATE “B”
16% STRONGLY SUPPORT CANDIDATE “B”
