California Parental Notification on Abortion Measure Leads in Fourth Poll

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Oct 23, 2008   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

California Parental Notification on Abortion Measure Leads in Another Poll

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 23
, 2008

Sacramento, CA (LifeNews.com) — A fourth poll of California voters in the last few weeks shows the parental and family notification for abortion measure leading. A new Public Policy Institute of California survey released today shows the measure with a 46 to 44 percent lead with 10 percent of state voters undecided.

However, the figures are lower than the percentages in the last PPIC poll conducted in late September.

That survey had the support at a similar 48-41 percent level after an August survey found the split at a 47-44 percent lead for the measure.

While pro-life advocates in California can rejoice that the parental notification measure has had a plurality in each poll leading up to the elections, ballot measures and candidates who fail to eclipse the 50 percent threshold frequently wind up on the losing end of votes.

Polls leading into the two prior elections featuring the parental notification measure also showed the abortion measure with a lead in the polls but it failed both times. With a higher turnout expected in California among Democratic voters, that could lead to less support for it on election day.

In late September, a Field Poll of 830 likely voters found the measure leading 49-41 percent with another 10 percent of voters undecided.

An early October Marist College poll found the parental notification initiative holds a 19 percentage point lead among likely voters, 52% to 33%.

Also on Thursday, backers of the parental rights measure trumpeted the support of Bill Handel, a morning talk-show host on "the most listened to news/talk station in America" who describes himself as "a big pro-choice guy."

Handel has told his listeners he will vote in favor of Proposition 4 because it takes into account "virtually every single objection the other side has been able to come up with."

Bill Handel told listeners during his 8 a.m. "Handel Yourself in the Morning" program on KFI AM 640 news/talk radio in Los Angeles, "Am I going to vote for it? Yeah, probably. Even though I’m a big pro- choice guy, this one is so reasonably done, and it really does say, ‘Hey, parents have a right to be notified, and, if there’s any fear of parents somehow punishing you, then we have ways of dealing with that, and here they are.’"

Handel, a lawyer specializing in reproductive technology who also hosts KFI’s weekend program "Handel on the Law," said the arguments of opponents of Proposition 4 are no longer convincing because those who crafted the measure took pains to answer objections to previous parental notification initiatives this time around.

Related web sites:
Yes on 4 – https://www.Yeson4.net
Friends of Sarah – https://www.friendsofsarah.com

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