Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin on America's newest third rail for MAGA Republicans, by the numbers:
"Republicans’ zealotry for forced-birth laws might be the best thing ever to happen to the pro-choice movement. 'A record 59 percent of surveyed Americans believe abortion should be legal, according to a new Fox News poll,' the Hill reported last week. 'Support for abortion rights has increased by double digits since early 2022, just before the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. 'The Supreme Court’s decision shredding Roe v. Wade 'created a cascading effect of abortion restrictions in Republican-controlled states nationwide and sparked a new movement of abortion rights activism.'
The impact of abortion criminalization has been profound. The percentage of Americans who say abortion should always be legal rose from 27 percent in April 2022 to 35 percent. Moreover, a record number now consider this an important issue (41 percent) while voters believe President Biden (53 percent) would do a better job on abortion issues than his almost certain 2024 rival, Donald Trump (41 percent).
Republicans, scrambling to avoid the backlash against abortion bans, have seized upon the idea of a six- or 15-week limit. That does not solve their political problem. 'When asked if they supported a six-week abortion ban, only 38 percent said yes, while 58 percent said they opposed the idea.' the poll showed. 'On a 15-week ban, 43 percent said they supported the idea, with 54 percent saying no — a complete flip in numbers from a Fox News poll from last year.'” (our emphasis)
While anti-choice voters have decreased over time, they're still a menace to reproductive freedom. It's noteworthy that the solid Trump voter (the 41 percent cited) believes he'd do a better job on abortion issues, by which they mean restricting choice.
States that put reproductive choice on the ballot have shown it's potent power against Republicans. They're about to find out in Florida in November, where that state's reprehensible law nearly banning abortion will be tested by vote of the people aiming to enshrine protections in their state constitution.
BONUS: The folks at electoral-vote.com on the Florida November implications --
...[E]ven if the pro-choice and/or pro-marijuana forces can't get to 60%, there are lots of important races that are determined by a simple majority, or, in the absence of a majority, a plurality. The state's electoral votes. The U.S. Senate race, featuring the never-won-any-election-by-more-than-2% Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL). The various House races, which could return a Congress that protects abortion access nationwide. The state legislative races, which could seat a legislature that overturns the 6-week ban...
(photo: Jason DeCrow/AP Photo)
