The vast majority of voters disagree with the Supreme Court’s decision this summer overturning Roe v. Wade, which provided a constitutional right to abortion, Republicans acknowledge in a memo released Tuesday that also offers advice on how they say their candidates can effectively position themselves heading into the general election this fall.
In the memo, first reported by the Hill, Republicans describe “Three Core Groups” of voters based on voters’ opinion of the court’s decision on the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Heath Organization, which left states free to outlaw abortion, and also whether voters agree with Democrats on the issue.
The percentage of voters who are “not pleased” with the decision is about 80 percent, according to the memo.
When asked about the unpopularity of the Dobbs decision, a Republican National Committee spokeswoman noted their memo also shows 63 percent of voters “disagree with Democrat platform.”
Overall, the five-page memo argues for shifting attention away from abortion to other issues.
“Democrats and the national media are determined to try to make abortion the top issue ahead of the midterms,” the memo says, “however, the media is not on our side, and we do not answer to them but to voters. Voters have made clear this election is largely about the economy and crime.”
In a news release accompanying the memo, the RNC echoed that idea, saying, “Voters have made clear this election is about rising prices and the economy.”
The memo comes as Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) is introducing legislation to ban abortions nationwide after 15 weeks. Graham’s bill has no chance of passing the Democratically controlled chamber, but one Republican operative argued that it could serve as a counterexample to the more extreme abortion bans that Democrats say Republicans are pushing.
In the memo, first reported by the Hill, Republicans describe “Three Core Groups” of voters based on voters’ opinion of the court’s decision on the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Heath Organization, which left states free to outlaw abortion, and also whether voters agree with Democrats on the issue.
The percentage of voters who are “not pleased” with the decision is about 80 percent, according to the memo.
The memo goes on to say Republican “must draw a contrast” between their position on abortion — which the memo describes as including exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother — against “a Democrat who supports abortion at any time for any reason.”
When asked about the unpopularity of the Dobbs decision, a Republican National Committee spokeswoman noted their memo also shows 63 percent of voters “disagree with Democrat platform.”
Overall, the five-page memo argues for shifting attention away from abortion to other issues.
“Democrats and the national media are determined to try to make abortion the top issue ahead of the midterms,” the memo says, “however, the media is not on our side, and we do not answer to them but to voters. Voters have made clear this election is largely about the economy and crime.”
In a news release accompanying the memo, the RNC echoed that idea, saying, “Voters have made clear this election is about rising prices and the economy.”
The memo comes as Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) is introducing legislation to ban abortions nationwide after 15 weeks. Graham’s bill has no chance of passing the Democratically controlled chamber, but one Republican operative argued that it could serve as a counterexample to the more extreme abortion bans that Democrats say Republicans are pushing.
