Minnesota voters support legalizing gay
marriage by a narrow 2 point margin.
According to a Public
Policy Polling survey of 1,065 voters and 373 usual Democratic
voters, 47 percent of respondents support marriage equality, while 45
percent remain opposed.
Democrats and Republicans are at
opposite ends of the issue: 74 percent of Democrats favor it and 79
percent of Republicans are opposed.
When given a choice, 43 percent said
they support gay nuptials, and 32 percent civil unions. Twenty-three
percent said there should be no legal recognition of gay
relationships.
Supporters are expected to propose
legislation legalizing such unions. The push comes after Minnesota
became the first state to reject a constitutional amendment which
sought to limit marriage to heterosexual couples and Democrats
regained control of the Minnesota Legislature.
“Minnesota's marriage equality
advocates are in a strong starting position if they decide to push to
allow gay marriage,” said Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy
Polling.
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, a
Democrat, is a vocal supporter of extending marriage rights to gay
and lesbian couples.