Again, with the murders, shootings, and bombings in the early 1990s, public opposition to clinic violence soared, as did support for legal intervention to end clinic violence. Pollster Lou Harris argues that clinic violence has created a backlash against the anti-abortion movement with the American public which abhors these extremist tactics, fueling support for abortion rights. While it is true that a majority of both women and men believe in legal abortion, women support abortion rights more intensely than men creating an important gender gap on this pivotal election issue. With each increase in educational attainment, women's support for abortion rights increases. Conversely, men's attitudes on abortion remain stable regardless of educational attainment.
Young women are among the most dependable pro-choice allies.