Such a conclusion could benefit the chances of a pro-abortion rights running mate for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the apparent Republican Party presidential nominee, The Hill, a Washington publication, said. McCain is widely believed to be considering Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., or former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, both pro-abortion rights, as his running mate.

The poll by Republican Majority for Choice, a pro-abortion rights advocacy group, urged party members to be open-minded about a possible change in GOP abortion policy and to listen to divergent views, The Hill said.

The group canvassed 600 likely voters, all registered Republicans, from last Thursday to last Saturday. The margin of error was 4 percentage points.