Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Poll Watch: Rasmussen (R) Survey on Abortion and Ultrasound Laws

Rasmussen (R) Survey on Abortion and Ultrasound Laws

Generally speaking, on the issue of abortion, do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life?
  • Pro-Choice 53% [49%] (50%)
  • Pro-Life 39% [41%] (40%)
Among Women
  • Pro-Choice 55%
  • Pro-Life 36%
Among Men
  • Pro-Choice 51%
  • Pro-Life 42%
Several states have proposed laws that would require pregnant women to view an ultrasound picture of their fetus before having an abortion.  Do you favor or oppose such a proposal? 
  • Favor  41%
  • Oppose  48%
Should the government be allowed to mandate medical procedures for patients? 
  • Yes 9% 
  • No 78%  
National survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted March 25-26, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted May 23-24, 2011 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted February 14-15, 2011 are in parentheses.

Inside the numbers:
Predictably, 74% of pro-choice voters oppose the law requiring pregnant women to view ultrasounds prior to abortions, while 72% of pro-life voters favor it.

Interestingly, while 62% of Republican voters support the law requiring women to view ultrasounds before abortions, 80% of GOP voters say the government should not be allowed to mandate medical procedures. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of Democrats and 52% of voters not affiliated with either party oppose the law.

Similarly, 76% of pro-life voters say the government should not be allowed to mandate medical procedures, a view shared by 81% of pro-choice voters.

Men and women feel similarly about the ultrasound proposal: Pluralities of women (48%) and men (49%) oppose such a law.

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