There's a new abortion-rights poll out, showing support for Roe v. Wade is at 49% to 47%, compared with 52% in 2005.
The percentage of U.S. adults who say women should be permitted to get an abortion under all circumstance (24%) has remained rather stable over the last decade. In comparison, 20% of adults think a woman should be able to get an abortion under no circumstances, compared with 21% a year ago.
So there's been little change in the numbers of people who are firm and absolute in their views on abortion rights.
I wonder how those middle numbers would look different if they'd asked, "Do you support your own right (or your wife's or girlfriends' or daughter's) to decide whether to terminate a pregnancy within the first three months?" I also wish they'd asked respondents whether they'd ever personally exercised their right to choose (or supported someone who has). I mean, advertising agencies have picked up on the power of ownership language. I want abortion pollsters to do the same. I'm guessing that numbers would look a little more pro-Roe.
Thanks to Erin for the link.
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Given what I've seen in other polls (mostly media-related, but some political), the answer is a resounding yes. When people are asked, for example, how much they're swayed by television pundits, they tend to answer "not at all" or "not very much," but when asked how much others are swayed, it's pretty much the opposite end of the spectrum.
I've seen that number as high as 65% in some other polls. I've never seen it as low as 49%. SurveyUSA does a 50-state Roe v Wade poll once in a while and it's much more pro-Roe. The question wording in this poll was quite unique. It doesn't really ask whether Roe v Wade should be overturned but instead refers to "this part" of the decision.