Nov. 29 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. President George W. Bush's nominee for the next Supreme Court vacancy should be willing to uphold the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that guaranteed abortion rights, according to a majority of Americans in an Ipsos-Public Affairs poll for the Associated Press.

Fifty-nine percent said Bush should choose a supporter of Roe v. Wade, while 31 percent said they want a nominee who will try to overturn the decision, according to the poll. Support for Roe v. Wade was seen among both men and women, across most age and income groups, and in urban, suburban and rural areas, AP said.

Bush, whose supporters in the Nov. 2 election included groups that oppose abortion, is expected to get an opportunity to put his stamp on the court during his second term, as a result of departures from the bench caused by retirement or illness. All but one of the nine justices are over 65, including Chief Justice William Rehnquist, 80, who has thyroid cancer.

More than 60 percent of all respondents said a nominee should reveal his or her position on abortion before Senate confirmation, according to the Nov. 19-21 telephone poll of 1,000 adults.

Sixty percent said they favor a mandatory retirement age for the justices, who are appointed for life. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

There have been no Supreme Court vacancies since Bush took office. Earlier this month he said his future nominees to the federal courts would be much like those from his first term. Democrats blocked votes on 10 nominees for federal trial and appellate judgeships, saying they had extreme views on issues including abortion and civil rights. The Senate confirmed more than 200 judges.

Respondents in the AP-Ipsos poll also were asked their opinion on legalizing gay marriage. Sixty-one percent said they oppose legal marriage for gays and lesbians, while 35 percent said they are in favor.

To contact the reporter on this story: Heather Langan in London at hlangan@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 29, 2004 06:08 EST