Fewest Americans satisfied with Abortion since 2001

Gallup 9 February 2015
In 2015, 34% of Americans say they are satisfied with current U.S. abortion policies. This is the lowest percentage since Gallup first asked the question in 2001.

In three of four years since 2012, less than 40% of Americans have been satisfied. Yet between 2001 and 2008, at least 40% were satisfied every year. Gallup asks Americans about their satisfaction with the nation’s policies regarding abortion as part of the annual Mood of the Nation Poll, conducted in January. The poll was not conducted from 2009-2011. Between 2001 and 2008, an average of 43% of Americans were satisfied with U.S. abortion policies; since 2012, the average has been 39%.

Republican Satisfaction With Abortion Policies Lower Since 2012
One factor contributing to the drop in satisfaction with abortion policies is significantly lower satisfaction among Republicans since 2012. From January 2001 to January 2008, after the election of Republican George W. Bush and spanning most of his two terms, at least 39% of Republicans each year said they were satisfied with the nation’s abortion policies. Satisfaction among Republicans reached as high as 44% in January 2002, Bush’s first year in office. However, since 2012, with Democratic President Barack Obama in office, no more than 29% of Republicans have been satisfied with the nation’s abortion policies. And Republicans’ satisfaction is particularly low this year, at 21%, an eight-percentage-point decline from a year ago.

Satisfaction among Democrats and independents these past four years has been roughly equivalent to what was observed, on average, from 2001-2008. At 46%, Democrats continue to be the most likely of the three party groups to say they are satisfied with the nation’s abortion policies. Independents remain more satisfied than Republicans, at 36%.

Between 2001 and 2008, satisfaction among independents and Republicans was remarkably similar, while Democrats were generally only a few points more satisfied than Republicans. However, since 2012, Republicans have been at least eight points less satisfied than independents. In 2015, there is a 15-point gap between Republicans than independents, and 25 points between Republicans and Democrats.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/181502/fewest-americans-satisfied-abortion-policies-2001.aspx