The American Spectator

The Spectacle Blog

For the first time since Gallup began asking the question in 1995, more Americans now identify themselves as pro-life than pro-choice, by a 51 percent to 42 percent margin. Certainly, there should be a note of caution about the survey since some people may define the term "pro-life" a lot differently than others. A minority of the population stakes out the absolutist positions, with 23 percent saying abortion should be illegal in all circumstances, and 22 percent saying it should be legal in all circumstances; by contrast, 53 percent of those polled say that it should be allowed "only under certain circumstances." That leaves a wide range of possibilities. Does that mean they think abortions should be allowed during the first trimeste? Only in cases or rape/incest? Or only if the life of the mother is in danger?

With that said, this polling result does undercut the favored media narrative that the reason why the GOP is losing is that it's been captured by social conservatives who are overly obsessed with abortion.