Newsweek Poll
Fetal Rights
Princeton Survey Research Associates
Final Topline Results
(5/31/03)
N = 1,009 adults, 18 and over
Margin of error: plus or minus 3
Interviewing dates: 5/29-30/03
SAMPLE SIZE/MARGIN OF ERROR FOR KEY SUBGROUPS:
296Republicans (plus or minus 6)
305Democrats (plus or minus 6)
354Independents (plus or minus 6)
319Evangelical Protestants (plus or minus 6)
282Non-Evangelical Protestants (plus or minus 7)
183Catholics (plus or minus 8)
97No religion (plus or minus 11)
481Men (plus or minus 5)
528Women (plus or minus 5)
495Pro-choice (plus or minus 5)
459Pro-life (plus or minus 5)
1.Now, on another subject... On the issue of abortion, do you consider yourself pro-choice,” generally supportive of abortions rights or
“pro-life,” opposed to abortion in most circumstances?
Pro-choicePro-lifeDK
Current Total47485=100
Trend
(9/29-30/94)474310=100
Republicans38575=100
Democrats52426=100
Independents51463=100
Evan. Protestants28684=100
Non-Evan. Protestants56386=100
Catholics47494=100
No religion5933 8=100
Men49465=100
Women4550 5=100
NOTE:1994 results based on registered voters. “Don’t know” category in 1994 poll includes volunteered response “Neither”.
2.In your opinion, when does human life begin...When a man’s sperm fertilizes a woman’s egg, when an embryo is implanted in a woman’s uterus, when a fetus is viable – that is, is able to survive outside the womb, or at birth?
Fertilized eggEmbryoViableAt birthDK
Current Total461224117=100
Republicans501121108=100
Democrats45 926137=100
Independents431527105=100
Evan. Protestants62111386=100
Non-Evan. Protestants35103313 9=100
Catholics551417 95=100
No religion29143711 9=100
Men391127158=100 Women 52 13 21 8 6 =100
Pro-choice281140156=100
Pro-life6513 976=100
3.In vitro fertilization clinics create human embryos in a laboratory by fertilizing a woman’s egg outside the womb. These clinics often create extra human embryos their patients cannot use or choose not to use. Do you consider these extra human embryos more as a potential source of human organs that can be donated or children that can be adopted?
Human organsChildrenNeitherDK
Current Total27332218=100
Republicans21372220=100
Democrats33272020=100
Independents29352214=100
Evan. Protestants20402119=100
Non-Evan. Protestants35282017=100
Catholics27352315=100
No religion36251920=100
Men29292418=100
Women26361919=100
Pro-choice37242316=100
Pro-life19442017=100
NOTE:“Neither” is a volunteered response category.
4.Do you think it is okay for clinics to destroy these extra human embryos if their patients approve, or not?
YesNoDK
Current Total493714=100
Republicans483517=100
Democrats493813=100
Independents513811=100
Evan. Protestants374617=100
Non-Evan. Protestants583012=100
Catholics454411=100
No religion583012=100
Men523315=100
Women464014=100
Pro-choice69229=100
Pro-life315316=100
5.We’re interested in how you think the criminal justice system should deal with cases involving the murder of a pregnant woman. When, if ever, do you think prosecutors should be able to bring SEPARATE murder charges against someone who kills a fetus still in the womb? In other words, try them for two murders instead of one. Do you think this should be done in ALL cases where a pregnant woman is murdered, only in cases where the fetus is viable – that is, is able to survive outside the womb, or not at all?
All CasesFetus ViableNot at allDK
Current Total562897=100
Republicans612496=100
Democrats5429107=100
Independents553087=100
Evan. Protestants642178=100
Non-Evan. Protestants513595=100
Catholics642655=100
No religion48271510=100
Men5232115=100
Women6023710=100
Pro-choice4140127=100
Pro-life711766=100
6.I just have two more questions. Let me assure you that this is a confidential survey and you will never be identified in any way when the results are released. Have you, or has anyone in your family ever used assisted reproductive technology, such as in vitro fertilization or donated egg or sperm?
YesNoDK
Current Total3952=100
Republicans4951=100
Democrats4942=100
Independents3952=100
Evan. Protestants2962=100
Non-Evan. Protestants4951=100
Catholics3961=100
No religion3934=100
Pro-choice4942=100
Pro-life3961=100
7.Have you, or has anyone in your immediate family, ever had an abortion for any reason?
YesNoDK
Current Total16804=100
Republicans9892=100
Democrats20764=100
Independents19783=100
Evan. Protestants17803=100
Non-Evan. Protestants13843=100
Catholics14842=100
No religion21745=100
Pro-choice23725=100
Pro-life10873=100
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