The Abortion Dilemma

A new Rasmussen poll highlights the challenge confronting those of us in the pro-life movement. While the poll found strong support for restrictions on abortion, only 37% of Americans consider themselves generally pro-life, and 53% consider themselves generally pro-choice.

Even among those who say they are pro-life, only 29% believe all abortions should be banned. But 66% of voters do not support abortion past the first trimester, which is basically 12 to 13 weeks.

So, the further into the pregnancy you go, the more the public is with us. But the earlier into the pregnancy, the less support we have for abortion restrictions.

Unfortunately, I have also seen polling that indicates most Americans believe pro-life conservatives want to ban all abortions. And they do not believe that the pro-abortion side wants unrestricted abortions all the way to birth.

In other words, the left’s messaging and rhetoric have taken root, and the public still doesn’t recognize the extremism of the pro-abortion left. This dynamic largely explains why our side has not won a single major ballot initiative since Roe v. Wade was overturned.

That’s a big problem. But it’s not a problem caused by Donald Trump, who got Roe overturned.