A new poll released Monday shows Iowans
divided on the issue of gay marriage.
The poll, conducted by The Des
Moines Register, shows voters in the state nearly evenly divided
about whether they would vote for or against a constitutional
amendment that would ban gay marriage in Iowa.
Opponents of gay marriage edged out
supporters by just one percentage point, with 41% of voters saying
they would vote in favor of a ban. The remainder of respondents are
either not sure or did not answer the question.
The poll was the first to examine
opinions in the state since the Iowa Supreme Court legalized gay
marriage on April 3.
Republicans seeking the governor's
mansion in 2010 are betting heavily that the issue will help their
ambitions. Frontrunner Bob Vander Plaats has pledged as governor he
would sign an executive order placing a stay on gay marriages. Rod
Roberts, a Republican state representative, has called for the ouster
of the court's seven justices, three of whom will be up for
retention in 2010.
A majority of Iowans (43%) said they
oppose the court's unanimous ruling. Twenty-six percent favored it.
Opposition against gay marriage is
strongest among Republicans. Sixty-two percent of Republican
respondents said they either oppose or strongly oppose giving gay and
lesbian couples the right to marry. Forty-six percent of Democratic
respondents said they either favor or strongly favor gay marriage.
The paper contacted 803 Iowans between
September 14 and 16. The poll claims a 3.5 percent margin of error.