A majority of likely voters in Maine
say they support equal marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples.
According to a new WBUR
poll of 506 likely voters released Monday, fifty-five percent of
respondents favor a November ballot question which, if approved,
would legalize gay nuptials in the state.
Marriage equality supporters are
returning the issue to the ballot box after voters in 2009 narrowly
repealed a marriage law approved by lawmakers with a “people's
veto,” known as Question 1. If approved, Maine would become the
first state to legalize such unions with a popular vote.
(Related: Maine
secretary of state releases draft of gay marriage question.)
While the poll is good news for
marriage equality supporters, it suggests that, unlike in other
states, President Barack Obama's recent endorsement of such unions
has not influenced Mainers' thinking on the issue much.
A Public Polling Policy survey released
in April before Obama made his historic endorsement also found a
majority (58%) of Maine voters in support of marriage equality.
Additionally, groups working to defeat
the measure have just begun their fundraising campaigns.
(Related: Maine
churches fundraise against gay marriage on Father's Day.)