Poll: Americans Weigh in on Stem Cells, Same Sex Marriage, Affirmative Action and More

The Harris Poll has taken a look at how Americans feel about eight different social issues and they came up with a mixed bag of results. For instance, there are some issues that get very strong support such as the death penalty, embryonic stem cell research and separation of church and state. On the other side of the equation, other issues like gay rights, physician assisted suicide and affirmative action still get support, but at a lower level and one issue, and only one, gets a mostly negative response and that one is same sex marriage.

The results show that these issues have the potential to play a large part in the Presidential election.

The poll was a nationwide survey of 2,694 adults that was taken on line between August 7 and 13, 2007.

Here is an up close look at some of the results.

On the death penalty, 64% support it, 19% oppose it and 12% saying they neither support nor oppose it.

On the issue of embryonic stem cell research, 57% give it support, 19% oppose it and 15% do not oppose of support it.

The next question involves the separation of church and state and on this issue 56% support it, 19% oppose it and 17% are neutral/

On the issue of abortion rights, 52% give it support, 29% oppose it and then there are the 15% who do not have an opinion one way or the other.

All of these issues are pretty cut and clear. In the next group,
the levels of support, or the lack of it, is not quit as clear.

On Gay rights, there are 40% who support, 33% who are opposed and 225 with no opinion

Physician assisted suicide has always been a sensitive issue and 39% said they support it, 31% oppose it and 21% are again, neutral

Affirmative action has been an issue for many tears, In this poll, 36% support it, 29% oppose it and 24% have no opinion.

And as for the issue of same sex marriage, which is the only one with more who oppose than support, 31% give it support, 46% oppose it and 19% are undecided.

It comes as no surprise that when they break the results down by political parties, Republicans, Democrats and Independents, there are vast differences on most issues.