Thread by @Michael_J_New

(1/8) A new @Gallup poll shows a gain in pro-choice sentiment. However, pro-lifers need not be worried -- here's why

(2/8) The poll shows 55% of Americans identify as "pro-choice." This is a 5 percentage point gain from the last Gallup poll taken in May 2021.

Regardless of how the questions were worded, there was a 5-6 percentage point gain in favor of legal abortion since last year's poll,

(3/8) Nearly all of the gain in "pro-choice" sentiment came from Democrats.

Last year 70% of Democrats identified as pro-choice.
This year 88% of Democrats identified as pro-choice.

Greater pro-choice identification among Democrats might make little difference politically.

(4/8) The most important lesson from this poll is that fluctuations in abortion attitudes are driven by current events

According to @Gallup, there were gains in pro-life sentiment during

A) Mid to late '90s (Debate over partial birth abortion ban)
B) 2013 (Kermit Gosnell trial)

(5/8) Similarly according to @Gallup, there were gains in "pro-choice" sentiment in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Many thought the Supreme Court was poised to overturn Roe v. Wade before the Webster decision (1989) and the Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision (1992).

(6/8) The @Gallup poll was mostly conducted in the days after the draft decision in Dobbs was leaked.

Most of the subsequent media coverage was not sympathetic to the pro-life position. As such, it is unsurprising the @Gallup poll showed an increase in "pro-choice" sentiment.

(7/8) To their credit, for the only the 7th time in the past 26 years -- @Gallup included questions about late-term abortions.

55% thought abortions should be "generally illegal" in the 2nd trimester

71% thought abortions should be "generally illegal" in the 3rd trimester

(8/8) Pro-lifers do not be frustrated or discouraged by these polls. Public attitudes on abortion often fluctuate.

Many of our policy goals enjoy strong public support. As such, keep up your efforts in building a culture of life!