New Quinnipiac Poll

In the polls

Connecticut's Quinnipiac University released a new poll this morning surveying Americans' attitudes on abortion, the filibuster fight, and the Bush presidency. The numbers don't look great for the right wing or the White House.

By 63 to 33 percent, Americans support the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, with men supporting it at a higher rate (68 to 28 percent) than women (58 to 37 percent).

For all the rhetoric from the religious right about "outrage" over the filibuster compromise, the poll revealed that opinions about the nuclear option divided along party lines, with Republicans against the filibuster 48 to 39 percent, and Democrats supporting its use by 70 to 23 percent. Independent voters, meanwhile, backed the use of the filibuster by a margin of 54 to 39 percent.

"While the filibuster fight ended in a truce, most American voters were backing the Democrats on this one," said Maurice Carroll, Director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, in a statement. "If this fight were really about Roe v. Wade, Quinnipiac University polls have shown a consistent 2 -1 support for this historic ruling, with more support from men."

The poll saves its worst news for the president, with 50 percent of Americans disapproving of Bush's job performance. This confirms other recent polls that found the president's job approval at an all-time low.

-- Julia Scott

[13:47 EDT, May 25, 2005]