Public Religion Research Institute Poll Review

Yesterday, the Cleveland Plain Dealer published a review of a recent poll conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute (commonly referred to as “The Values Poll”). The poll asked Ohio voters about two issues: abortion and gay marriage.

While the Plain Dealer focused primarily on the issue of gay marriage, I would like to draw your attention to how Ohioans responded to the poll’s abortion question.

The Plain Dealer through a biased lens concluded from the responses, “A slight plurality (47 percent) believes abortion should be legal in all or most cases.”

However, if you look at the breakdown of responses, you’ll find that an overwhelming majority of Ohioans want some kind of restriction on abortion:

In fact, 76% of Ohio voters want abortion to be illegal in a given circumstance.

Undeniably, this news is encouraging: Ohio voters simply don’t want abortion-on-demand.  Whether they want a late-term abortion ban, a partial birth abortion ban, or even the increasingly popular 20-week ban, we can rest assured that Ohio voters have their limits when it comes to abortion.

Ed FitzGerald, the candidate for Ohio governor who is being billed as “100% pro-choice,” could not be more out of step with Ohio voters.  Ed FitzGerald’s 100% pro-choice position appeals to a mere 16% of Ohio voters.

Until he starts drawing a line and qualifying his position like the rest of Ohio, Ed FitzGerald will forever be 100% extreme and out of touch.

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