A new statewide poll shows Virginians by more than a 2-to-1 ratio support tougher regulation of outpatient abortion clinics. And by an even wider margin, they approve of the job Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell is doing.
The Quinnipiac University Poll comes one day before Virginia health regulators vote on regulations that would hold abortion clinics to hospital standards, not those of doctors' offices as they are now.
Abortion rights groups call it an effort to circumvent the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortions.
The poll found 55 percent support tighter regulations to 22 percent who oppose them. It also found 61 percent approve of McDonnell's job performance to 21 percent who disapproved.
Quinnipiac surveyed 1,368 registered voters statewide. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.
