Poll: Roberts' Abortion Stance of Interest

Poll: Roberts' Abortion Stance of Interest

By WILL LESTER
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Just over half of all Americans - and a solid majority of women - want to know John Roberts' position on abortion before the Senate votes on whether to elevate him to the Supreme Court.


Most people don't yet know enough about Roberts to form an opinion on him, but among those who do, most view him favorably, an AP-Ipsos poll also found.

Roberts, 50, an appeals court judge and former Justice Department official, was chosen by President Bush on Tuesday to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Abortion is sure to come up at his Senate confirmation hearings, and the survey found 52 percent believe he should give his position on the matter before lawmakers vote on him, while 42 percent said he should not. Women were more inclined to want to know his position - 60 percent - while only 43 percent of men felt similarly.