The State House News Service released
a new poll yesterday that showed voters rejecting the proposed ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriage by a margin of 51.9% opposed to 42.6% in favor. The proposition to define marriage as one man and one woman was approved by AG Tom Reilly and if it gets enough signatures will head to the ballot in 2008, provided it can muster support of a mere 25% of the Legislature in 2006 and 2007. Since 2004, when the first same-sex marriages were performed, support for marriage equality has steadily risen, and I can't imagine that these numbers are going to get worse. If nothing else, it shows that support here in Massachusetts is not limited to some radical fridge, but it is a mainstream position.
[more on the flip]
Still, pollster Gerry Chervinsky had a few words of caution:
"But remember, these ballot questions are hard to poll. It's the world of the hidden vote, where people want to tell you the politically correct thing. But when they get into the voting booth and pull the shades, they go -- 'hmmm, maybe I won't vote the way they think I should.'" That could indicate a hidden vote in favor of the gay-marriage ban, Chervinsky cautioned.
For more poll results, including trend lines, please check out my blog,
.08 Acres, which has all the gubernatorial matchups and results since the first State House News poll back in March -- all in one handy place!