In the wake of the widespread outrage over a Missouri congressman's remarks about rape and abortion, about 60 percent of Americans do not think his comments reflect the views of most Republicans, according to the latest CBS News poll.
That result includes a majority of women. And while there is little gender difference over all on abortion views, women and Democrats are more likely than men or Republicans to say they could not back a candidate who disagreed with them on abortion.
Abortion has resurfaced in the 2012 campaign, partly because Representative Todd Akin, the Republican challenger to Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri, was forced to issue several apologies after saying that women who were raped could physically prevent themselves from becoming pregnant. More than half of voters have heard or read about his comments, including about a third who said they had heard or read a lot.
Democrats have trie d to link Mr. Akin's comments and stance against all abortions to leading Republicans, including Mitt Romney. In an interview this week with CBS News, Mr. Romney reiterated his view that while he was opposed to abortion, exceptions should be made in cases of rape, incest or when the health of the mother is at stake.
According to the poll, conducted Aug. 22 to 26, few Americans think abortion should be completely banned, even as the Republican Party approved a platform this week that included a plank opposing any abortions..
Just 32 percent of men and 38 percent of women approve of unrestricted abortions, but 15 percent of men and 11 percent of women think the availability of abortion should be subjected to more constraints. Men (27 percent) and women (26 percent) are just as likely to say that women should be allowed to get an abortion in cases of rape, incest or to save their lives.
Allowing abortion only to save a mo ther's life is supported by 9 percent of men and 12 percent of women. And 12 percent of men and 10 percent of women say there are no circumstances in which the procedure should be legal.
Although there are few gender differences, there are political ones. Democrats and supporters of President Obama tend to say abortion should be available, while Republicans and supporters of Mr. Romney are more likely to favor significant limits on abortion.
The nationwide poll was conducted by landline and cellphone with 1,218 adults, of whom 1,051 said they were registered to vote. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 3 percentage points.
