New Poll Shows
Support for Proposition 8 Growing

A new poll shows support for California's Proposition 8 has grown in an 11-day period, reports CBS 5, the San Francisco Bay Area affiliate that commissioned the survey. Proposition 8 would rescind marriage equality for same-sex couples if passed. The California supreme court legalized same-sex marriage on May 15.

Results found that among 670 likely voters, 47% now support the ban on marriage equality, compared with 42% who oppose. Ironically, a poll conducted 11 days earlier found the same five-point margin, but that time in the opposition's favor. SurveyUSA, which conducted the research October 4-5, indicates that the only demographic to shift its position is young voters, typically the hardest to poll and predict.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points, which makes the race still too close to call, says the pollster. A summary released by SurveyUSA concluded, "Polling on ballot measures in general is an inexact science, and polling on homosexuality in general is a tricky business. So, not too much should be made of the five points that separates 'yes' and 'no' today."

As in previous polls, support for a gay marriage ban was strongest among self-identified conservatives and regular churchgoers. Liberals and those who consider themselves less religious made up the lion's share of the opposition. (The Advocate)