According to a poll released this week,
a proposed initiative which would repeal Oregon's ban on gay marriage
leads by a wide margin.
Portland-based DHM
Research's survey of 400 Oregon voters found that a large
majority (58%) of respondents support changing the Oregon
Constitution to allow gay couples to marry. Forty-four percent said
they support it strongly.
That's a 9 percent increase in support
since April, 2013.
Republicans, however, remain opposed,
with only 32 percent of Republicans saying they support the
initiative. Large majorities of Democrats (76%) and independents
(61%) support repeal of the restrictive marriage amendment.
A majority (57%) of voters approved the
amendment in 2004.
Last month, Oregon United for Marriage,
the sponsor of the initiative campaign, said it would abandon its
effort if a federal judge strikes down the state's marriage ban by
May 23.
U.S. District Judge Michael McShane
heard arguments in a case challenging the ban on April 23. A
last-minute request by the National Organization for Marriage (NOM)
to intervene in the case has made a quick ruling less likely.
(Related: Oregon
AG says NOM should not be allowed to intervene in gay marriage case.)