Interesting results from a Rock the Vote survey (came out during DNC):
Of concern to political activists involved in America’s culture wars is how new
registrants approach abortion. Twenty-one percent of voters entering the rolls feel that
abortion should be legal and generally available. Twenty-three percent believe that
regulation of abortion is necessary, but that abortion should remain legal in many
circumstances. Yet, the overwhelming plurality of first-time voters (41%) report that
abortion should be legal only in the most extreme cases, such as to save the life of the
mother, rape, or incest. Another 13% say abortion should be outlawed entirely. Adding
these percentages, one could conclude that 44% of first-time voters are pro-choice and
54% are pro-life.
Latinos are among the most pro-life cohorts examined; only about a third (34%) leans
pro-choice next to 61% who lean pro-life. Black first-time voters also are more pro-life
(59%) than pro-choice (42%), as are self-described moderates, who lean pro-life (52% to
45%). In fact, a plurality of new independent voters (36%), undecided voters (35%), and
Kerry voters (34%) think abortion should be legal only in extreme cases, such as to save
the life of the mother, rape, or incest. Of course, a significant number of Kerry voters
(31%) and undecided voters (22%) believe that abortion should be legal and generally
available.