Choosing Pro-Life

A new Gallup poll shows that for the first time (and with an impressive nine point margin) more Americans say they are pro-life than pro-choice.

PRINCETON, NJ -- A new Gallup Poll, conducted May 7-10, finds 51% of Americans calling themselves "pro-life" on the issue of abortion and 42% "pro-choice." This is the first time a majority of U.S. adults have identified themselves as pro-life since Gallup began asking this question in 1995.

The new results, obtained from Gallup's annual Values and Beliefs survey, represent a significant shift from a year ago, when 50% were pro-choice and 44% pro-life. Prior to now, the highest percentage identifying as pro-life was 46%, in both August 2001 and May 2002.

The May 2009 survey documents comparable changes in public views about the legality of abortion. In answer to a question providing three options for the extent to which abortion should be legal, about as many Americans now say the procedure should be illegal in all circumstances (23%) as say it should be legal under any circumstances (22%). This contrasts with the last four years, when Gallup found a strong tilt of public attitudes in favor of unrestricted abortion.

The article goes on to note that the major change from this year to last year is the number of Republicans who call themselves pro-life, that number is up significantly. The number of Democrats and Independents calling themselves pro-life is about the same.

Even if you assume that the number of Republicans has fallen (and Independents have grown) that still means the total population has made a major shift towards the abolition of abortion, despite making a major shift away from the Republican Party.

Certainly that's possible. Those still calling themselves Republicans are much more likely to be pro-life, but amazingly enough Barack Obama's election didn't change abortion views among Democrats or Independents.

If Gallup asked enough Republicans to get 1/3 of the poll sample, when 1/3 of the population isn't Republican (it's closer to 20% these days) that could be skewing the numbers somewhat.

Still, I don't think that accounts for the entire shift. I think America is growing more pro-life, frankly.

Both parties should take notice.

[UPDATE] Steve Benen doesn't buy it. He has a point to an extent, pro-choice forces have gotten complacent. It could be an outlier.