Poll Watch: CBS News Survey on Abortion and the 2012 Presidential Election

CBS News Poll on Abortion and the 2012 Presidential Election

VIEWS ON ABORTION

• Permitted in all cases 35%
• Permitted with greater restrictions 13%
• Only in cases of rape/incest/save woman’s life 27%
• Only to save woman’s life 10%
• Not permitted at all 11%

Among Democrats

• Permitted in all cases 49%
• Permitted with greater restrictions 11%
• Only in cases of rape/incest/save woman’s life 24%
• Only to save woman’s life 4%
• Not permitted at all 8%

Among Republicans

• Permitted in all cases 17%
• Permitted with greater restrictions 13%
• Only in cases of rape/incest/save woman’s life 35%
• Only to save woman’s life 16%
• Not permitted at all 17%

Among Independents

• Permitted in all cases 35%
• Permitted with greater restrictions 14%
• Only in cases of rape/incest/save woman’s life 23%
• Only to save woman’s life 12%
• Not permitted at all 10%

Among Men

• Permitted in all cases 32%
• Permitted with greater restrictions 15%
• Only in cases of rape/incest/save woman’s life 27%
• Only to save woman’s life 9%
• Not permitted at all 12%

Among Women

• Permitted in all cases 38%
• Permitted with greater restrictions 11%
• Only in cases of rape/incest/save woman’s life 26%
• Only to save woman’s life 12%
• Not permitted at all 10%

Permitted in all cases/Permitted with greater restrictions

• Barack Obama 61%
• Mitt Romney 30%

Permitted only in few cases/Not permitted at all

• Mitt Romney 61%
• Barack Obama 29%

Possible You Would Vote for Candidate That Disagrees With You on Abortion

• Yes 57%
• No 34%

Among Democrats

• Yes 56%
• No 37%

Among Republicans

• Yes 68%
• No 27%

Among Independents

• Yes 50%
• No 37%

Among Men

• Yes 62%
• No 29%

Among Women

• Yes 53%
• No 38%

Heard or Read About Todd Akin's Comments

• A lot 35%
• Some 21%
• Not much 41%

Do Todd Akin’s Comments Reflect Those of Most Republicans?

• Yes 13%
• No 59%
• Don't know 27%
  

Among Democrats

• Yes 24%
• No 44%
• Don't know 32%
  

Among Republicans

• Yes 5%
• No 66%
• Don't know 29%
  

Among Independents

• Yes 9%
• No 56%
• Don't know 36%
  

Survey of 1,051 registered voters was conducted August 22-26, 2012.  The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.  Party ID: 33.2% Democrat; 30.7% Republican; 36.1% Independent.