WASHINGTON — Americans described themselves as more pro-life than pro-choice on abortion for the second straight year, according to a new Gallup Poll.
The survey showed 47 percent of Americans consider themselves pro-life, while 45 percent say they are pro-choice, Gallup reported May 14.
Gallup referred to the results — first evidenced in May 2009 — as the “new normal.”
“While the two-percentage-point gap in current abortion views is not significant, it represents the third consecutive time Gallup has found more Americans taking the pro-life than pro-choice position on this measure since May 2009, suggesting a real change in public opinion,” Gallup’s Lydia Saad wrote. “By contrast, in nearly all readings on this question since 1995, and each survey from 2003 to 2008, more Americans called themselves pro-choice than pro-life.”
Last May, Gallup’s polling showed 51 percent of adults said they are pro-life, while 42 percent identified themselves as pro-choice. It was the first time a majority of Americans had called themselves pro-life since Gallup began asking the question in 1995. Until then, no poll had shown more than 46 percent of Americans saying they were pro-life.
In July 2009, the Gallup poll showed a 47 to 46 percent advantage for the pro-life identification over the pro-choice one.
The survey also found an increase in pro-life sentiments since 2005–06 among Republicans, independents who lean toward neither political party, Americans under 30 years of age and adults from ages 50 to 64.
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