51 percent of Americans now categorize themselves as “pro-life” on abortion, with 42 percent choosing themselves as “pro-choice.” These numbers come from the “Values and Beliefs” survey done annually for the past 15 years by the Gallup Poll—and 2009 is the first time a majority of Americans have chosen the “pro-life” option. This result suggests that those urging Republican leaders to scale back on this issue may not have their finger on the pulse of the people. 

59 percent of those under-30 years of age now favor legalizing same-sex marriage. True, it is the only age group that feels this way, but—let’s face it—young voters are the future. This recent finding, also coming from Gallup, suggests that liberal Democrats who want to push their party to be more progressive on gay rights may have the tide of history on their side.

71 percent of Americans surveyed in a new Quinnipiac University poll expressed support for the white firefighters denied promotion by the city of New Haven, Conn., after no African-American applicants who took the required written exam scored high enough to be promoted. In the resulting lawsuit, federal appellate judge Sonia Sotomayor sided with the city, a decision favored by only 19 percent of those polled in the Quinnipiac survey.

55 percent of those polled on the broader question of affirmative action favor abolishing the doctrine altogether. Only 36 percent would like to keep it. The moral of the story might be that, although Democrats may control the White House and constitute a majority in the Congress (and a plurality of the electorate), Democratic Party doctrine does not necessarily correspond with majoirty public opinion.

54 percent of those polled in a recent Gallup-USA Today poll say they would like to see Judge Sotomayor confirmed as a Supreme Court justice. Those who don’t want her on the court numbered 28 percent, with 19 percent keeping an open mind. So what does this support tell us? A couple of things: First, President Obama seems to have calculated correctly in assuming people would be taken with Sotomayor’s up-by-the-bootstraps biography. Second, most Americans are not single-issue voters, and can appreciate an accomplished American woman (or man) even if they disagree with that person on certain issues. Sort of like a family.