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A2 UP FRONT
Saturday 2 July 2022
Abortion, women's rights grow as priorities: AP-NORC poll

By HANNAH FINGERHUT The poll shows these issues
Associated Press have been increasingly
WASHINGTON (AP) — A important to Democrats,
new poll finds a growing growing from just 3% in 2020
percentage of Americans to 13% in 2021 and now
calling out abortion or 33%. In interviews before
women's rights as priori- the ruling, 18% of Demo-
ties for the government in crats mentioned abortion
the wake of the Supreme or women's rights; that was
Court's decision to overturn 42% after.
Roe v. Wade, especially Among Republicans, 11%
among Democrats and identify abortion or wom-
those who support abortion en's rights as a priority in
access. the new poll, a modest in-
With midterm elections crease from 5% who said
looming, President Joe that in December.
Biden and Democrats will Steven Lefemine, who pro-
seek to capitalize on that tests outside the Planned
shift. Parenthood in Columbia,
House Speaker Nancy Pe- South Carolina, called Roe's
losi said in remarks immedi- reversal a "major bench-
ately after the decision that mark" but said lawmakers
"reproductive freedom is An abortion-rights activist holds a sign reading "I am not Ovary-Acting," during a protest outside needed to do much more,
on the ballot in November." of the U.S. Supreme Court, on June 28, 2022, in Washington. including pursuing a con-
But with pervasive pessi- Associated Press stitutional amendment to
mism and a myriad of crises protect unborn children.
facing the nation, it's not That's more than doubled with hardline opinions on men, too, but the growth "I'd like to see legislation
clear whether the ruling will since December, when an both sides of the issue — was concentrated in the that lives up to God's word,"
break through to motivate AP-NORC poll found a no- those who think abortion wake of the ruling, from 6% he said.
those voters — or just disap- table uptick in mentions of should be legal in all cases in interviews conducted Biden and Democrats have
point them. abortion from years before, and those who think abor- before to 21% after. vowed to fight for abortion
"It does feel like a major likely in anticipation of the tion should be illegal in all Lyle Gist said he wouldn't access, but they've strug-
setback," said 26-year-old Dobbs ruling on abortion. cases. have thought of abortion gled with how to act given
Lauren Nelson of San Di- The new poll, which includ- Earnestine Smith, a 68-year- as a top priority a few years crippling opposition from
ego, who has been worry- ed interviews conducted old resident of Waukegan, ago. The court decision to Republicans in a sharply di-
ing about the environment before and after the Su- Illinois, said the Supreme overturn Roe, though un- vided Senate. Biden said to
her young niece will grow preme Court's ruling, finds Court's decision to overturn surprising, makes it a major reporters on Thursday that
up in. She doesn't think the prioritization of the issues Roe represents progress. issue. he would support an ex-
midterms will change the grew sharply following the The issue is one of her high- "I think the ramifications of ception to the filibuster rule
course that states are on. decision. est priorities right now. this are substantial," said to codify Roe into law.
"You can't help but feel The Dobbs ruling kicks "We want abortion abol- 36-year-old Gist of Los An- Roderick Hinton, who vot-
kind of helpless, as though decision-making on abor- ished and done away geles. Gist thinks that there ed for Biden, wants to see
there's not much that can tion back to states, and in with," she said. "We got to will be ripple effects, in- the president move on
be done." the last week, Republican stand up and say no." cluding a "mass exodus" court reform, saying the
Twenty-two percent of U.S. governors and legislatures Still, it's significant that those of people moving out of court's decisions "are not
adults name abortion or have moved to introduce with the most liberal views states with abortion bans. matching today's time." He
women's rights in an open- or advance legislation that on abortion and those In a small town in Louisiana was angry after the court
ended question as one of bans or curtails abortions. with the most conservative in 1968, when abortion was overturned Roe -- that the
up to five problems they Polling conducted before views are about equally illegal, Anne Jones carried older generation is "put-
want the government to the decision showed it was likely to prioritize the issue; a pregnancy to term and ting the screws" to younger
work on, according to unpopular with a majority historically, research has gave her daughter up for Americans, including his
the poll from The Associ- of Americans, who wanted shown opponents of abor- adoption. Jones, now 74 in two daughters.
ated Press-NORC Center to see the court leave Roe tion have been more likely Plano, Texas, worries about Biden commissioned a re-
for Public Affairs Research. as is. A majority of Ameri- to consider the issue im- what the Republican Party view of the Supreme Court
ARUBA cans support abortion ac- portant to them than those might go after next -- like after promising to do so
birth control -- and thinks it's on the campaign trail, a
cess in general, though supporting abortion ac-
response to rhetoric with-
hypocritical that lawmak-
many say there should be cess.
CLEAN restrictions. About a third And the new poll finds men- ers like Texas Gov. Greg in the Democratic Party
tions of women's rights are Abbott want to "hold the about expanding the court
say abortion should be le-
gal in all cases, roughly almost exclusively by those woman accountable for following former President
another third legal in most who think abortion should the child that she may not Donald Trump's three con-
cases, about a quarter ille- be legal. be able to afford to keep" servative appointments.
gal in most cases. About 1 According to the poll, the even as they limit health The report released last
in 10 say it should be illegal percentage of women pri- and social services for year exercised caution
in all cases. oritizing abortion or wom- women and children. about proposals to expand
Mentions of abortion spe- en's rights was already high- "Politics in Texas has taken the court or set term limits.
cifically are not limited to er in interviews conducted a wrong turn," she said. She "Their lifetime position is re-
Americans who support before the ruling than six wants to see abortion ac- ally crazy," Hinton said. "As
abortion rights; instead, months ago, 21% vs. 9% in cess made national law neutral as the courts were,
IS MORE the poll shows abortion December; it swelled to but remains skeptical that it's now becoming political.
DUSHI is named as a priority by 37% in the days after. Men- Biden and Democrats can Their personal beliefs are
roughly a quarter of adults tions grew sharply among do so.
being put in place."q