Washington Post-ABC News Survey: The Alito Nomination

Questions 28-31 of the Post-ABC News survey dealt with the Alito nomination and the Supreme Court's direction. Click here for the survey questions that were released on Dec. 19. And here is the poll's demographic data.

28. On another subject, as you may know, Bush has nominated federal judge Samuel A. Alito to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Do you think the U.S. Senate should or should not confirm Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court?

Should     Should not     No opinion
Alito, 12/18/05        54           28             19
Alito, 11/2/05         49           29             22
Roberts, 9/11/05*      55           26             19
Roberts, 8/28/05       57           22             20
Roberts, 7/21/05       59           23             17
Breyer, 5/15/94        52           10             37
Thomas, 10/14/91**     59           28             14
Thomas, 10/13/91       56           29             15
Thomas, 10/12/91       50           29             20
Thomas, 10/9/91        47           23             30
Thomas, 10/8/91        50           25             24
Thomas, 9/15/91        63           24             14

*as chief justice
**No opin. for Thomas includes "wait and see" (vol.)

29. The Supreme Court legalized abortion 32 years ago in the ruling known as Roe versus Wade. If that case came before the court again, would you want Alito to vote to (uphold) Roe versus Wade, or vote to (overturn) it?

Uphold     Overturn     No opinion
Alito, 12/18/05       61          35              4
Alito, 11/2/05        64          31              5
Roberts, 8/28/05      60          33              7
Roberts, 7/21/05      65          32              4

30. Would you like to see the Supreme Court (make it harder to get an abortion than it is now), (make it easier to get an abortion than it is now), or (leave the ability to get an abortion the same as it is now)?

Harder     Easier     Same     No opinion
12/18/05      42         11        45           2
8/28/05       42          9        47           2

Compare to: Would you like to see the government and the courts (make it harder to get an abortion than it is now), (make it easier to get an abortion than it is now), or (leave the ability to get an abortion the same as it is now)?

Harder     Easier     Same     No opinion
1/20/03       42         15        41           2

31. How important is it to you that Alito agrees with your position on abortion - is that extremely important to you, very important, somewhat important, or less important than that?

----- Important -----     --- Less important ---      No
NET     Ext.     Very     NET     Smwt.     Less     opin.
12/18/05     43       17       26      55        38       17        1

Compare to:

How important is it to you that the next person nominated to join the U.S. Supreme Court agrees with your position on abortion - is that extremely important to you, very important, somewhat important, or less important than that?

----- Important -----     --- Less important ---      No
NET     Ext.     Very     NET     Smwt.     Less     opin.
12/19/04     54       26       28      45        30       15        1

From the Dec. 20 edition of The Washington Post: Bush's Support Jumps After a Long Decline.