Minnesota Amendment Opponents Raise $2.56 Million in 8 Weeks

Minnesotans United for All Families, the coalition of groups opposed to the constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage, has raised more than $2.5 million in the past eight weeks, bringing its total fundraising to over $8.2 million, with individual donations inside the state fueling the campaign.

The coalition announced its fundraising totals for the period from July 24 to September 18 in a statement Tuesday. The group said the latest $2.56 million in fundraising came from more than 25,000 individual donors, with 98% of them from Minnesota.

"The latest report brings the total fundraising for 2012 to $5.96 million and the campaign total to just over $8.2 million," according to the statement. "That money comes from 44,350 individual donors, with 92 percent from within the state."

Minnesotans United for All Families campaign manager Richard Carlbom said the coalition expected that supporters of the amendment would soon begin to "flood the state with money to fund incredibly hurtful, misleading and divisive television ads."

"Real Minnesotans would be hurt by this amendment, including thousands of families who are being devalued by supporters of the amendment," he said. "Minnesotans know this amendment is wrong, and they're making a personal investment in the efforts to defeat it."

Minnesota for Marriage, the main group working to pass the amendment, posted a report late Tuesday with the Minnesota Campaign Finance & Public Disclosure Board. The report indicated the group has raised around $1.2 million this year, putting it at a significant disadvantage compared to Minnesotans United for All Families. Opponents of marriage equality have shown a tendency to deluge campaigns with money at the last minute, however, and 41 days remain before Election Day.

Recent polling indicates the amendment vote is a tossup. The Star Tribune Minnesota Poll showed that 49% of voters approve of the amendment, with 47% opposed and 4% undecided.

Minnesota is one of four states facing ballot initiatives related to marriage this November. Governor Martin O'Malley of Maryland, which has a referendum on the new marriage equality law, said Monday campaigners need to raise another $2 million in order to ensure success.