While it may have lost some ground,
support for a gay marriage law in Washington state remains strong as
the election nears.
According to a Public Policy Polling
survey of 932 likely voters, 52 percent of respondents said they plan
to vote to keep the law, while 42 percent said they plan to reject
it. Six percent remain undecided.
“We have found that undecided voters
on these marriage questions generally end up voting anti-equality but
even given that it looks like a favorite for passage,” pollsters
wrote in announcing their results. “Every age group supports
legalizing gay marriage except for seniors, who oppose it 43/51.
Voters under 45 support it by a 57/37 margin.”
A SurveyUSA poll conducted in September
found an 18-point lead for Referendum 74.
A barrage of television ads from
opponents claiming passage would hurt children and threaten religious
freedom chipped away at that lead.
Supporters have also out-raised
opponents. Filings with the Public Disclosure Commission show
Washington United for Marriage, the group working to approve
Referendum 74, has raised $11.9 million, while Preserve Marriage
Washington's fundraising efforts have resulted in $2.6 million, less
than the $4 million the campaign said it expected to raise.
High-profile pro-marriage equality
donors include New York City Mayor Michael
Bloomberg, Microsoft co-founder Bill
Gates, and Amazon CEO Jeff
Bezos.