TAMPA -- A new poll finds a majority of Floridians disapprove of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade and sending abortion back to the states. The University of South Florida and Florida International University, say 57 percent oppose the high court's ruling in the Dobbs case. But the pollsters also found just one in three Floridians (33 percent) supporting a law guaranteeing abortion access. 44 percent of those surveyed favor some state level restrictions.
USF professor Stephen Neely says the findings show Floridians view abortion with more "nuance" than the political parties. "Additionally, it tells us that dissatisfaction (with the ruling) may not translate into support for a law to protect abortion access across the board."
Neely says that a majority of Republicans, Democrats and independents favor increased federal funding to support pregnant women (68%), sex education (71%), and child adoption efforts (80%).
The survey also finds that about three out of four (74%) of Floridians plan to base their vote on economic issues, while only 26% plan to vote on social issues, including abortion.
Other findings include 59 percent support for the gun bill that passed Congress recently. It also found bipartisan support for other gun law changes:
Requiring universal background checks: (Democrats 96%, Independents 93%, Republicans 91%)
Requiring a license to purchase guns classified as "assault weapons" (Defined as any firearm holding more than 15 rounds of ammunition) (Democrats 95%, Independents 84%, Republicans 79%)
Banning "assault weapons" (Democrats 95%, Indepnedante 89%, Republicans 81%)
Requiring a mandatory waiting period for all gun purchases (Democrats 96%, Independents 85%, Republicans 79%).
On the performance of Governor DeSantis and President Biden, 50% of Floridians strongly or somewhat approve of his performance on the economy. Support on other issues, including climate change, race relations, COVID-19 the environment and "uniting Floridians" ranged from 42 to 47 percent, with disapproval slightly higher on those issues, except for the environment. President Biden's approval rating is down, compared to the April survey, with 63 percent disapproving on immigration and 62 percent disapproving on jobs and the economy.
Neely and Florida International University graduate student and Ph.D candidate Bethany Bowra conducted the survey.
Listen to an interview below:
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