Gallup: Majority Say Bush Should Nominate a Woman to Supreme Court

By: E&P Staff If President George W. Bush does nominate a woman as the next Supreme Court justice, replacing Sandra Day O'Connor, he is likely to start out on a good foot with most Americans, politics aside.

A new Gallup poll finds that a majority think this would be a "good idea," though few view it as "essential."

While 13% tell Gallup it is essential to appoint a woman, 65% call it a good idea, 18% say it doesn't matter and 2% call it a "bad idea." Republicans And Democrats differ little on this, although more of the latter embrace the "essential" idea.

Earlier polling found a slight preference for a justice who would make the court more conservative, but Gallup also found most Americans also clearly prefer a justice who would not overturn the Roe v. Wade decision on abortion rights.