Voters trust Harris more than Trump on abortion in new Pennsylvania poll

As Vice President Kamala Harris works to build a coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans, abortion remains her strongest issue among Pennsylvania voters.

The poll, conducted by The Philadelphia Inquirer, the New York Times and Siena College, shows Harris has a 25-point lead over Trump on the issue, with 59% of likely voters having more confidence in her on the issue, slightly higher than President Joe Biden’s lead in April.

Harris has made reproductive rights one of her campaign issues because former President Donald Trump struggled to find a consistent message on the issue.

Even before Biden dropped out of the presidential race, Harris was a key Democratic messenger on reproductive rights. She proved her mettle when she discussed the issue during last week’s debate with Trump. The poll was conducted from Sept. 11 to Sept. 16, the six days immediately following the debate.

Key Philadelphia suburbs have been particularly supportive of Harris on abortion issues, with 72% of likely voters in the counties saying she is better prepared to handle the issue. The collar counties helped secure Biden’s victory in the state in 2020 and could decide the outcome again this fall.

While discussing abortion during a debate with Trump in Philadelphia last week, Harris focused on the stories of women who were denied medical care because of state restrictions on the procedure. She also cited stories of adolescent victims of rape and incest who had to cross state lines to get abortion care.

“The government and Donald Trump certainly should not be telling a woman what to do with her body,” Harris said.

This news caused an echo.

“I’m Catholic, so I can’t say I would actually have an abortion, but I think everyone should have that choice. And not have to be afraid. Or risk their life to do it,” said Jessica Storment, a 27-year-old from Philadelphia who plans to vote for Harris.

Trump, who appointed three judges who overturned convictions Roe v. Wade in 2022, he insisted he did not support federal restrictions on abortion and argued that the Dobbs decision correctly returned the matter to the states. But he has not said whether he would veto a federal abortion ban if Congress sent it to his desk.

He sought to portray Harris as an extreme figure by claiming she supports very late-term abortions — which are extremely occasional. Harris has said she supports codifying abortion protections in Roe v. Wadewhich would protect access to abortion until the fetus is capable of surviving outside the womb, around 24 weeks of pregnancy.

“They are radical, the Democrats are radical in this regard,” he said.

Despite Trump’s claims to the contrary, the poll found that 49% of Pennsylvanians, including 71% of respondents in Philadelphia, believe Trump would attempt to introduce nationwide restrictions on abortion if elected.

Even Trump supporters told pollsters they trusted Harris more on abortion.

“When it comes to … women’s rights … reproductive health, that’s the most important thing to me. Because, you know, things happen whether you plan for them or not,” said Kylie Dickens, a 25-year-old from West Grove who plans to vote for Trump. “So, you know, I’m definitely nervous about that aspect of him getting into office. I don’t agree with him in that sense.”

A gigantic majority of likely voters in Pennsylvania support legal access to abortion, with 66% of respondents saying abortion should always or mostly be legal. Only 26% think it should always or most times be illegal.

Reproductive rights will be a key issue motivating Democrats in November, regardless of the vote.

In the Pennsylvania Senate race, Republican Dave McCormick has tried to move away from the abortion issue, talking instead about reproductive rights from the perspective of expanding access to fertility treatments.

Still, 49% of respondents said they trusted the incumbent Democratic senator, Sen. Bob Casey, 19 percentage points more than the number who trusted McCormick on this issue.