Support for
Florida Marriage Ban Holding Steady

Once thought to be a strong contender for the vice presidential slot on the McCain ticket, long-rumored-to-be-gay Florida governor Charlie Crist is watching his approval ratings soar throughout Florida, according to a new Quinnipiac Univeristy poll.

The Palm Beach Post reports that approval for Crist has soared to 61% throughout Florida. The surge in Crist's poll numbers comes on the heels of two announcements: He's engaged to be married, and he supports a Florida ban on same-sex marriage.

Crist told reporters in early August that he supports Amendment Two, which would constitutionally ban same-sex marriage throughout the state of Florida. At the time, Crist was still thought to be a top contender for the VP slot on McCain's ticket.

The Florida governor's support for Amendment Two was an about-face from his previous position on the issue of gay marriage. Though Crist had long shied away from commenting either way on the topic of gay marriage, reporters had credited him with a "live and let live" attitude.

As approval for Crist surges throughout the state, so does support for Amendment Two.

According to a recent article in the Miami Herald, 55% of voters throughout Florida support a ban on same-sex marriage. While that is short of the 60% approval needed to amend the constitution, recent polls suggest that number is holding.

Earlier this month, the blogs had a field day with Crist's announcement that he is engaged to be married -- to the head of one of the nation's largest Halloween costume manufacturing companies.

According to TowleRoad.com: "The woman marrying the gayish governor from the sultry Southern state actually makes beards." (The Advocate)