More Americans classify themselves as pro-life" on abortion than pro-choice" by 51 percent to 42 percent according to a Gallup poll released Friday.
This result marks the first time in the 14 years Gallup has been polling on the subject that the pro-life" designation has pulled ahead.
In the same survey a year earlier Gallup found 50 percent calling themselves pro-choice" and 44 percent pro-life."
The reversal was prompted by an unusually sharp shift among Republicans who went from 60 percent to 70 percent a 10 percentage-point increase in those calling themselves pro-life." Opinion among people describing themselves as Democrats or leaning Democratic has remained relatively steady over the years with roughly two-thirds pro-choice" and one-third pro-life."
Gallup notes its most recent survey is in line with the findings of a recent Pew Research Center poll which found a decline in those saying abortion should be legal in all or most cases. In the Pew poll 46 percent said abortion should be legal an 8 percentage-point decline from results on the same question last August.
Gallup says the trends in its latest poll hold up for Catholics Protestants men and women.
The Gallup poll was based on telephone interviews with 1015 adults nationwide May 7-10 and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
More Americans classify themselves as pro-life" on abortion than pro-choice" by 51 percent to 42 percent according to a Gallup poll released Friday.
This result marks the first time in the 14 years Gallup has been polling on the subject that the pro-life" designation has pulled ahead.
In the same survey a year earlier Gallup found 50 percent calling themselves pro-choice" and 44 percent pro-life."
The reversal was prompted by an unusually sharp shift among Republicans who went from 60 percent to 70 percent a 10 percentage-point increase in those calling themselves pro-life." Opinion among people describing themselves as Democrats or leaning Democratic has remained relatively steady over the years with roughly two-thirds pro-choice" and one-third pro-life."
Gallup notes its most recent survey is in line with the findings of a recent Pew Research Center poll which found a decline in those saying abortion should be legal in all or most cases. In the Pew poll 46 percent said abortion should be legal an 8 percentage-point decline from results on the same question last August.
Gallup says the trends in its latest poll hold up for Catholics Protestants men and women.
The Gallup poll was based on telephone interviews with 1015 adults nationwide May 7-10 and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
