Ebbing Support For Abortion On Demand
CNN/TIME poll finds fewer Americans support unrestricted access
By Keating Holland/CNN
WASHINGTON (Jan. 16) -- In a significant shift, fewer Americans today support unrestricted access to abortion than six years ago, according to a new CNN/TIME poll.
In 1992, nearly half the country believed a woman should be able to get an abortion if she wanted one no matter what the reason. Today, only 38 percent favor abortion on demand.
Now, 43 percent of people surveyed believe that abortion should only be
legal in certain circumstances, such as when the woman's health in endangered or when the pregnancy results from rape or incest.
Sixteen percent believe abortion should be illegal in all circumstances. And nearly three-quarters of Americans think that the government should ban the procedure sometimes called "late-term" or "partial-birth" abortion except in cases where the mother's life is in danger.
The Republican National Committee is considering a proposal which would
withdraw party support from any Republican candidate who does not support a ban on the abortion procedure known as "partial-birth" or "late-term" abortion.
Most Republicans nationwide support that proposal, and oppose party funding for candidates who do not support the ban. Only a third of rank-and-file Republicans nationwide believe that the party should continue to provide financial support to candidates who oppose a ban on partial-birth abortion.
The poll's results are based on interviews with 1,020 adults on Jan. 14-15. The survey has a margin of sampling error of +/- 3 percentage points to +/- 7.5 percentage points, depending on the question.
Here are the numbers:
Abortion Should Be... |
Always legal Legal in some circumstances Always illegal Not sure |
|
38% 43 16 3 |
Abortion Should Be Legal
In All Circumstances |
1987 1989 1991 1992 1994 1996 NOW |
|
34% 38% 44% 49% 47% 40% 38% |
Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion
Should Be... |
Legal Illegal Not sure |
|
19% 74 7 |
GOP Money To Candidate
Who Oppose Abortion Ban |
Favor Oppose |
|
35% 51 |
The Jones case
With Bill Clinton's deposition in the Paula Jones lawsuit scheduled for this weekend, how does the public view the case?
Half the public thinks that Paula Jones' description of the incident which took place in a Little Rock, Ark., hotel room is false; only about a third of the country thinks her description is true.
Most Americans, including those who think she is telling the truth, have an unfavorable impression of Paula Jones. Overall, 61 percent of all Americans have an unfavorable impression of her. Even people who believe that her description of the incident is true feel unfavorably toward her; 46 percent of people who believe her story have an unfavorable opinion of her. Just a quarter feel favorably toward her.
Paula Jones' Description
Of Incident With Clinton |
True False |
|
32% 50 |
Those Who Believe Paula Jones'
Description of Incident is True |
Favorable opinion of her Unfavorable opinion of her |
|
25% 46 |
[Sampling error: +/-7.5% pts] |
Opinion of Paula Jones [All Americans] |
Favorable Unfavorable |
|
11% 61 |
Clinton's approval rating
Bill Clinton's approval rating, currently at 59 percent, is about as high as Ronald Reagan's was in January 1986, six years into his presidency. But there are big differences in the public's view of Clinton and the last president to win a second term.
The public has the same rosy view of life under Clinton that they
had about the Reagan years; 58 percent say the country is better off now than it was six years ago when Clinton became president. Sixty percent said the same thing in 1986 about Reagan's first six years in office.
But 48 percent say Clinton is an average president; a majority say that Reagan was a good president or a great president.
Only 37 percent feel that Clinton is a leader who can be trusted; 61 percent have doubts and reservations about Clinton. In comparison, only 41 percent had doubts and reservations about Reagan during his presidency. Reagan's standing with the public, it should be noted, has undergone a revival. Four years ago a bare
majority had a favorable view of the California Republican. Today, two-thirds feel favorably toward him.
Approval Ratings |
Clinton now Reagan, 1986 |
59% 64 |
Is Country Better Off
Than Six Years Ago? |
Now 1986 |
58% 60 |
Presidential Ratings |
Great Good Average Poor |
|
Clinton 5% 29 48 18 |
Reagan 14% 38 33 14 |
Doubts and Reservations
About the President |
Clinton now Reagan, 1984 |
61% 41 |
Opinion of Reagan |
Favorable Unfavorable |
|
Now 66% 27 |
1994 51% 42 |
|