Poll: Abortion views not a litmus test for most voters

CBS News

(CBS News) The issue of abortion rights was thrust into the spotlight this month after the Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin made some controversial remarks on the matter. A new CBS News poll, however, shows that most voters, Democrats and Republicans alike, are willing to look past the issue when it comes to supporting a political candidate.

As many as 57 percent of registered voters say it's possible they would vote for a candidate that disagreed with them on the issue of abortion, according to the poll, conducted Aug. 22-26. Thirty-four percent said they could not support such a candidate.

Women are more likely than men to say they could not vote for a candidate who disagreed with them on the issue of abortion (38 percent of women said so, compared with 29 percent of men). Additionally, Democrats (37 percent) are more likely than Republicans (27 percent) to say they could not do so.

Women who won't do so are more likely to be Democrats and to think abortion should be allowed in all cases or with greater restrictions.

Nearly half of Americans think abortion should be permitted in all cases or permitted with greater restrictions than it is now. Another 27 percent say abortion should be allowed only in the cases of rape, incest or to save the woman's life. Another 10 percent think an exception should be made only to save the woman's life. One in 10 thinks abortion should never be permitted.

CBS

Men and women generally hold similar views on abortion, but women are more likely than men to say abortion should be allowed in all cases. There are striking differences by political party: Democrats are more inclined to think abortion should be available, while Republicans think it should be restricted to cases of rape, incest, and to save the woman's life or not permitted at all.

A majority of voters (61 percent) who think abortion should be permitted in all cases or with greater restrictions are supporting President Obama's re-election, while a majority (61 percent) of those who think abortion should be allowed in just a few cases or not at all say they plan to vote for Mitt Romney in November.

As for Akin, more than half of voters say they have read or heard about the comments he made regarding rape and abortion, including 35 percent who have heard or read a lot. Akin has come under fire from Republicans and Democrats alike after suggesting that it's uncommon for women to become pregnant as a result of rape. Akin has apologized, but Republican leaders have nevertheless urged Akin to abandon his Senate bid.

Most voters, 59 percent (including a majority of women), do not think Akin's comments reflect the views of most Republicans. But a quarter of Democratic women think Akin's statements represent the views of most Republicans, and they are strongly supporting Mr. Obama.

For the full poll results, see next page.

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This poll was conducted by telephone from August 22-26, 2012 among 1,218 adults nationwide, including 1,051 registered voters. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample and the sample of registered voters could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher. Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

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[rccrawford]

The whole pro life movement is collapsing under the weight of scientific laws that prove the movment is without a foundation. It is a scientific fact that until the DNA of the genotype "expresses" the correct phenotype one cannot claim there is life, and the expression cannot reasonably be said to have occured until birth. It is therefore impossible to claim there is life at conception. And the pro life movement is based upon the idea of life at conception.
Further it is impossible to force the birth of a fetus without causing the death of a born baby.
The pro life movement is incapable of curing these problems and will therefore fail. It is only a matter of time. http://www.naturalabortionlaws.com http://www.facebook.com/naturalabortionlaw

[cg1729]

Interesting how the creator of the survey chooses to group answers when providing the commentary...on the topic of abortion, why group "supports with no restrictions" and "supports with greater restrictions"? Is it only so that it seems like the majority support abortion? Isn't a more natural analysis of the responses to say that 65% of those surveyed think abortion should face more restrictions than it does now?

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

by Kinz1510 August 29, 2012 1:16 PM EDT
@democracy8, I think you are the one that needs to read up on the rider called the Hyde Amendment. And please read more than the first paragraph.

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Why? Just because YOU don't understand it? LMAO!

[nottblu]

The left will always justify wiping out an unborn human life using false assertions, semantics, and womens rights. What about the rights of the unborn. THey will call the unborn child a "lump of cells", "tissue", fetus, zygote, etc, never a human being. The problem with that type of rationalization is from the moment of conception it has become a human being in just another of many fazes of growth, life starts, cells divide, the gentic map is in place and working, the DNA of that person is unique it his or hers not any one elses. If the baby is killed thruogh an act of crime, violence, or negligence, the person responsible can be prosecuted for murder but if the mother for whatever reason does not want it even if there are options as in abortion it is her "right" to kill it. How is that proper? How does that somehow make sense? It doesn't so forthe left it is neccessary to dehumanize it, to call names that dehumanize, to use excuses like viabilioty outside the womb, how about viability once a human is born and as he or she changes throughout their lives? The instyant a human must rely on outside help for survival does that equate to no longer being "viable", it's about word games for the libs never reality and science when it comes to abortion.

[ifocus29]

You ever notice, how you have been convinced to save fetuses, meanwhile you can barely stand the people you already live around. When was the last time you really had a genuine positive feeling about another obviously leaving human being? When was the last time you looked at someone who didn't look like you and wished that person well, genuinely. No one is trying to wipe out unborn human life. What we do wish to reiterate is that it is not the role of a government to determine what a woman should be doing with their bodies. You people always need something to believe in, a diversion. How does Romney really plan to do better with this economy? How does he plan to get the troops out for good?...Get the country in a path of ethical responsibility? I am a tax payer and I feel the burn like most Americans and yet I still feel like what Obama is doing will benefit people in this country. Why don't we talk about stuff like. The last time a republican wanted to get you people excited, they mentioned how they would end gay marriage. 4 years later, the country was in the crapper financially Bin Laden was still roaming the countrysides of Pakistan, majority of the troops were still at war and GAY PEOPLE STILL MARRIED. Get a grip and smell the baloney around you.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

by Kinz1510 August 29, 2012 10:36 AM EDT
It's called personal responsibility and morals. Taxpayers and the government should not be financially responsible for a woman's "mistake."

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They aren't. Which is why women pay for their own abortions.

[Kinz1510]

Where can I find the facts for the basis of your statement?

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

In the Hyde Amendment, Einstein.

[Kinz1510]

Taxpayers and the government should not be financially responsible for a woman's "mistake." Democrats claim that abortion is a matter of women's freedom and rights when actually it is them trying to shirk personal responsibility.

If a woman wants freedom and rights over her body, then she needs to be responsible and accountable for her body. Only then would she have true Liberty!

[displeased2]

Part of me doesn't want to fund a woman's birth-control mistake either, but at the same time, I don't want to fund the welfare of an unwanted baby. I think that would cost more in the long run. I've always been responsible and never had to discuss abortions or having kids, but I think the decision to have abortions from an unplanned pregnancy is fueled by economic reasons. If the parents can't afford to fund their "mistake", then the tax payers will have to contribute, or deal with another uneducated, burden to society.

[democracy8]

Please tell me how many abortions are performed at the taxpayers' expense (hint, read up on the Hyde Amendment first).

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

I find it interesting that these pro-birthers claim to all be "conservatives", yet:

1) they rarely seem to answer "yes" to "have you adopted?"

2) they don't think of the childhood an unwanted child will have under a resentful parent.

3) are FOR taking away a woman's freedom and liberty with her own body

4) are FOR the resulting increase in welfare which will occur if women who cannot afford babies are forced to have them
.

[seabass6251]

1) I raise my two children; spend a lot of time with my neices and nephews; participate in our Church's Awana program for kids; active in the Big Brother/Sister program; donate to local food banks and volunteer at least once a month. I don't think your idea that one must answer "yes" to "have you adopted" is a necessary hurdle to be pro-birth.

2) I can't help that folks like your parents breed and conceive. What a ridiculous argument. No one wants a child to grow up with a "resentful parent" whether the pregnancy was planned or not.

3) Has nothing to do with "taking away a woman's freedom and liberty with her own body" as it does to protect the unborn child's freedom and liberty with her own body.

4) Welfare shouldn't exist anyway... however, no one is forced to have a baby because no one is forced to have sex. You can worry about the consequences or you can fix the problem. Whichever makes more sense to you.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

So you couldn't refute any of the points, Seabass. Why did you post - just to prove that?

[rightontarget]

by mecanik-2009 August 28, 2012 11:02 PM EDT
Abortion concerns their child. It's more then just a womens body. It's not like your removing a tumor or a boil on your skin. It's a living human.
***********************

It's about WHO gets to determine just WHEN human "life" begins!!! There are all kinds of biological "life" forms. They are not all "people" or "children". We have BIRTH certificates, NOT "CONCEPTION" certificates and we celebrate BIRTHdays and NOT Conception Days!!! Get a grip!!! If you believe that a person's "life" begins at conception, then good for ya! BUT DO NOT FORCE EVERYONE TO BELIEVE THE SAME WAY YOU DO. THAT IS MY CHOICE! NOBODY forces anyone to have an abortion. Everyone has the right to BELIEVE whatever they want but NOBODY has the right to DICTATE what I or anyone else believes. If you want to "save" an unborn "child" then don't get an abortion but if you personally don't believe that it is in fact a "child" until the moment of birth and they "breath the breath of life" then keep religion OUT of my government and Government out of my religion. It's about controlling other people's actions according to your own beliefs. You do NOT have the right to determine that for everyone. Live your life according to your OWN convictions but just do NOT try to DICTATE your convictions on everybody else. I am NOT "pro-abortion", I am "pro-CHOICE". This is a personal matter and everyone should make those kinds of decisions according to their OWN conscience.

[seabass6251]

What an idiot...

Who else stands up for the unborn child?

Women killing female fetuses, and that seems reasonable?

No matter how one comes to the conclusion, through religion or otherwise, state-sponsored killing of our own is immoral, unethical, and demonic.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

Who else stands up for the unborn child?

----------

Any mother who wants it.

[Kinz1510]

The amoral Democrats will do anything to shirk personal responsibility. While claiming they are protecting women's rights, reproductive rights, human rights, dignity and equality, they exalt the literal destruction of women through abortion.

The Republicans do their best to protect American morals and women's rights, dignity, and equality even including those still in utero. Republicans want everyone to uphold personal responsibility.

A famous Democrat once stated, "My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Today, the Democrats have done a 180. Obama's supporters are asking what can my country do for me; Where's my handout, my bailout, my public assistance?????

[seabass6251]

Nothing more true has ever been posted on this site.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

You both must have had some serious head trauma... Do you REALLY think that abortion is split among party lines? Hardly!

Freedom and liberty is what women are concerned about. When you talk about removing their options regarding their own bodies and the rest of their lives, they don't like it.

Partisan hacks like you will never understand that. I know dems firmly opposed to abortion, and repubs abhorred by the idea of removing a woman's right to choice.

[marychgo]

Abortion and contraception REMAIN issues, alongside the economy, because the Republican position on these subjects so definitively reflects the GOP's ABSOLUTE disrespect for the American women whose presidential votes they fatuously believe they're going to win.

So long as Republicans think they know better than the woman involved whether she can or should carry a pregnancy to term, so long as Republicans think a one-celled zygote is more worthy of protection than the woman in whose uterus that zygote resides: yes, abortion and contraception REMAIN issues in this presidential race!

It's not simply ABOUT reproductive rights; it's about human rights and dignity and equality. The GOP really DOESN'T think that "all men are created equal" includes WOMEN...and women RECOGNIZE that! Even women who have serious doubts about abortion in some situations would be fools to trust the Republican Party to protect their non-reproductive rights, since the Party doesn't respect those rights.

[marychgo]

I support the right of ANY woman to continue a pregnancy AND, unlike most Republicans, I think a woman who decides to continue a pregnancy and needs help keeping herself and her fetus healthy until delivery deserves support from both the government and the community. But I ALSO support that woman's right to decide NOT to continue her pregnancy. That's why they call it "pro-choice"!

[seabass6251]

Why can't we respect the rights of the woman and the fetus? Liberals want us to believe it's one or the other and that the woman's rights trump those of the fetus. Why?