Majority of Republicans oppose government shutdown over Planned Parenthood

A supermajority of Americans, 69 percent, oppose shutting down the federal government over funding for Planned Parenthood, according to a national Quinnipiac University poll released Monday. That includes 56 percent of Republicans against the shutdown being proposed by conservative House Republicans. Only 23 percent supported forcing the government to shut down if Planned Parenthood isn't stripped of all federal funding.

By a 52 percent to 41 percent margin, Americans are opposed to even defunding the women's health group, Quinnipiac said, though a 49 percent plurality of men and a 71 percent majority of Republicans support stripping Planned Parenthood of its funding. Asked about their opinion of the group, a plurality of 44 percent said they have a favorable opinion, versus 39 percent with a negative opinion — and again, there is a big gender gap.

"While voter support for Planned Parenthood is tepid, most American voters, especially women and Democrats, don't want to cut off federal funding," Quinnipiac's Tim Malloy said in a statement. The poll was conducted Sept. 17-21 and has a margin of error of ±2.5 percentage points.

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