Changing opinions on Roe v. Wade

The majority of the population opposes overturning Roe v. Wade. However, when the pollster explains what such an overturn would do -- and more to the point, what it would not do -- the margin gets a lot slimmer.

The survey first asked Americans a generic question about whether they wanted Roe overturned and found the public opposes that by a 55 to 34 percent margin.

The polling firm then told respondents that Roe prohibits states from limiting abortion during the first six months of pregnancy and that, if Roe is overturned, states could make abortion policies that would permit abortion for some reasons and bar it for others.

The poll found that Republicans initially favored the overturning of Roe by 60 to 32 percent. By the end of the survey, that already whopping margin had increased to 67 to 29 percent.

The swing among Democratic voters was especially marked: 26 points in the direction of favoring a reversal of Roe.