A friend was kind enough to pass along three studies from Gallup which were very much food for thought. Today we'll focus on just one and return to the others at a subsequent date.

The May 22 article was headlined, "Abortion Issue Laying Low in 2008 Campaign," and as written by Lydia Saad. Two points need be made.

Saad writes that, "Currently, just 13% of Americans say they will vote only for a candidate who shares their views on abortion, while another 49% say it will be just one of many important factors." However, the important point to remember from what she writes at this point is that "[T]oday's 13% is not atypical of results found in the first half of previous presidential election years. In May 2004, only 14% of Americans said a candidate must share their views on abortion; that rose to 17% by October 2004. In March 2000, the figure was only 15%."

Saad also observes, "Traditionally, Gallup has found more pro-life than pro-choice adherents saying a candidate must share their abortion views. The gaps were particularly wide in July 1996 and October 2004. In those two cases, only about 10% of pro-choice Americans, but more than 20% of pro-life persons, said a candidate must share their views."

As of May 2008 what we call the "pro-life increment"--the fact that there are more pro-lifer single issue voters than pro-abortion single issue voters--is of "relatively low salience." But as Saad also notes, there is a real pro-life advantage among those who say abortion is "one of many important issues they consider." Among this population, "pro-life persons register as more activated to vote on abortion (68% vs. 60%)" than do pro-abortionists.

What that tells us is two things. First, that we need to do a better job educating the public about how strongly pro-abortion is Senator Barack Obama and how strongly pro-life Senator John McCain is on abortion. Second, we need to remind people that the right to life is the first right, the right without which we cannot experience any other right.

Please drop me your thoughts at daveandrusko@hotmail.com. 

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