For possibly the first time, large majorities of Democrats and Republicans say that the direction of the U.S. Supreme Court will be a “very important” determining factor in how they vote for president in the fall, according to a new poll.
The survey from WPA Opinion Research found that 71 percent of Republican voters believe the future of the court will be somewhat or very important to their vote. And 63 percent of Democrats agree.
The issue surged to the front of the presidential race after Justice Antonin Scalia, the voice of conservatives and strict constitutionalists on the court, died last month during a hunting trip.
The poll done for the Family Research Council looked at the impact of the court on several categories of voters, including church goers, independents, and likely voters. The results showed how important the issue is to voters in both parties. They also should signal to the GOP presidential candidates that conservatives would support the one who clearly says he wants a constitutional conservative judge if given a chance to make a pick.
“This survey tells us that the American people have a sobering perspective following the passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Reality is sinking in for voters in both parties that the next president will likely appoint two or three justices to the U.S. Supreme Court, which will impact our nation for decades to come,” said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council.
“By an 8 point margin, Republican voters are more concerned than Democrats about the future of the Supreme Court. I believe this is in part due to previous Republican presidents who have either been unable to identify liberal jurists in conservative clothing or have been unwilling to fight for nominees who were true constitutionalists,” he told Secrets.
Generally, the poll found that among just adults, 50 percent said the court will be a “determining factor in who you vote for in November’s elections.” Only 3 percent said that President Obama should appoint a replacement for Scalia now.
Among likely voters, that jumps to 63 percent. It’s 50 percent for independent voters.
And among regular church goers, 71 percent said that the court is central to who they will pick.
“Frequent churchgoers are even more concerned than non-churchgoers about the direction of the Court. This higher level of concern is no doubt due to the Supreme Court preempting social consensus by imposing its abortion and marriage views on all 50 states,” said Perkins who added:
“Justice Scalia’s replacement may very well be the deciding vote on major cases involving religious liberty, state abortion laws, gun control, and immigration. With so much at stake, the American people should be allowed to decide in November who picks the next Supreme Court justice.”
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
