Americans Still Divided On Abortion

8/5/2009, by Proloy Bhatta

HIGHLIGHTS

• Pro-Life: 47%, Pro-Choice: 46%.
• In May, it was Pro-Life: 51%, Pro-Choice: 42%.
• Republicans who call themselves pro-life has risen nearly 10 points.

Americans More Pro-Life Than Earlier in the Decade

The latest polls by Gallup suggest that Americans are more pro-life than they have been in earlier decades. Although it is true according to their poll, sentiments may not really be changing as drastically as the polls suggest.

Republicans who now label themselves pro-life has risen by double digits. In 2001, just 59% of Republicans labeled themselves Pro-Life. Now it is 70%.

Democrats have not had a significant change in attitude on the abortion issue. In 2001, 59% of Democrats labeled themselves Pro-Choice. That has now risen slightly to 62%.

It is common in US politics for those of the minority party to solidify their views on the issues so for America to really be considered a Pro-Life country, more Democrats will have to become Pro-Life. And that has yet to happen.