Jennifer Rubin: Republicans' abortion woes worsen [View all]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/04/02/republican-abortion-election-challenge/

https://archive.is/pUdpq



Republicans’ zealotry for forced-birth laws might be the best thing ever to happen to the pro-choice movement. “A record 59 percent of surveyed Americans believe abortion should be legal, according to a new Fox News poll,” The Hill reported last week. “Support for abortion rights has increased by double digits since early 2022, just before the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision.” The Supreme Court’s decision shredding Roe v. Wade “created a cascading effect of abortion restrictions in Republican-controlled states nationwide and sparked a new movement of abortion rights activism.”

The impact of abortion criminalization has been profound. The percentage of Americans who say abortion should always be legal rose from 27 percent in April 2022 to 35 percent. Moreover, a record number now consider this an important issue (41 percent) while voters believe President Biden (53 percent) would do a better job on abortion issues than his almost certain 2024 rival, Donald Trump (41 percent).

Republicans, scrambling to avoid the backlash against abortion bans, have seized upon the idea of a six- or 15-week limit. That does not solve their political problem. “When asked if they supported a six-week abortion ban, only 38 percent said yes, while 58 percent said they opposed the idea.” the poll showed. “On a 15-week ban, 43 percent said they supported the idea, with 54 percent saying no — a complete flip in numbers from a Fox News poll from last year.”

The November election will feature abortion measures in many states that could impact competitive races. While Maryland is already a deep-blue, pro-choice state, a measure on the ballot in November enshrining abortion rights in the state’s constitution spells trouble for Republican Senate candidate and former governor Larry Hogan, who has tried to duck the issue but faces a GOP backlash if he deviates from the MAGA party line. (As governor, he vetoed a bill expanding abortion access.)

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