PRINCETON, N.J., May 15 (UPI) -- Most U.S. adults asked about perceived abortion positions say the public supports abortion rights, which contrasts with a near-even split in views, Gallup said.
Results of the 2013 Values and Beliefs poll released Wednesday indicated 51 percent of American adults said they believe the "pro-choice" rights view prevails while 35 percent said "pro-life" opinion is dominant.
The poll used the terms "pro-choice" for pro-abortion and "pro-life" for anti-abortion.
However, the same poll indicated the actual view was more evenly split, with 48 percent of Americans saying they "pro-life" and 45 percent identifying themselves as being "pro-choice," the Princeton, N.J., polling agency said.
Americans saying they had no religious identity were the most heavily in favor of abortion rights, at 80 percent, results indicated. Liberals and Democrats were next, with those identifying themselves favoring abortion rights outnumbering those saying they were anti-abortion by at least 2-1.
The strongest anti-abortion views were found among Republicans and conservatives, of whom about two-thirds said they are anti-abortion, results indicated. Slight majorities of Catholics, Protestants, non-whites, southerners and seniors said they have an anti-abortion view.
Gallup said it found less than 10 percentage-point differences separating the pro- and anti-abortion camps in all other major subgroups.
Results are based on nationwide phone interviews conducted with 1,535 adults May 2-7. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.
