As the Republicans, both in the federal and in the state governments, continue their efforts to please the fundamentalist right by outlawing abortion, they once again find themselves in opposition to the wishes of a significant majority of Americans.
As the top chart shows, 79% of the American public wants to keep abortion legal -- at least in certain circumstances (like it is now under the rules laid down by the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision). About 50% want it legal in at least some circumstances, and another 29% would like it legal in all cases. Only a tiny 18% would like to see it outlawed completely.
This feeling cuts across gender and political lines. About 79% of both men and women want it to remain legal in at least some circumstances. About 79% of Independents and 90% of Democrats agree with that -- and even 70% of Republicans (which makes me wonder why the Republican officials continue this effort at all).
The charts are from a recent Gallup Poll -- done between May 3rd and 7th of a random national sample of 1,011 adults, with a 4 point margin of error.
