Cue the Gloating

Fetus fetishists will have a bounce in their step today, even though the Canadian branch of them didn't quite get the 'tens of thousands' they were confidently predicting for yesterday's Forced Pregnancy March. The always reliable *snerk* LifeShite pegs the number at a suspiciously round 10,000.

That affair might have been a damp squib, but a new Gallup Poll will rev them up again.

A new Gallup Poll, conducted May 7-10, finds 51% of Americans calling themselves "pro-life" on the issue of abortion and 42% "pro-choice." This is the first time a majority of U.S. adults have identified themselves as pro-life since Gallup began asking this question in 1995.

The move is apparently the work of the Party of No.

The source of the shift in abortion views is clear in the Gallup Values and Beliefs survey. The percentage of Republicans (including independents who lean Republican) calling themselves "pro-life" rose by 10 points over the past year, from 60% to 70%, while there has been essentially no change in the views of Democrats and Democratic leaners.

There's some interesting speculation on why this happened.

With the first pro-choice president in eight years already making changes to the nation's policies on funding abortion overseas, expressing his support for the Freedom of Choice Act, and moving toward rescinding federal job protections for medical workers who refuse to participate in abortion procedures, Americans -- and, in particular, Republicans -- seem to be taking a step back from the pro-choice position. However, the retreat is evident among political moderates as well as conservatives.

So, the Rethugnicans may be getting some traction with their 'most baybee-killingest president evah' bullshit.

Or not.

It is possible that, through his abortion policies, Obama has pushed the public's understanding of what it means to be "pro-choice" slightly to the left, politically. While Democrats may support that, as they generally support everything Obama is doing as president, it may be driving others in the opposite direction.

Meh. Merkins. Who can figger them?

MORE: Hmmm. Here's some evidence that these numbers may be outliers.

BONUS! Dr Dawg posted a video from the Forced Pregnancy March that shows your average zygote zealot and misogynist vulture at his best.

MORE BONUS! Yes! Yes! Teh base!

For some strong opponents of abortion rights, the poll is seen as a mandate for the Republican Party to recommit to social conservatism.