A third poll has found a majority of
New Yorkers in support of legalizing gay marriage.
Fifty-seven percent of respondents to
an RBJ Daily Report Snap Poll support Governor Andrew Cuomo's plan to
make New York the sixth state to legalize the institution.
Forty-three percent remain opposed to marriage between members of the
same sex.
More than 1,000 readers participated in
the paper's poll conducted between June 6 and 7.
A near universal majority (87%) of
respondents also said gay marriage would either increase the
state's economic competitiveness (39%) or have no impact (48%).
Last week, a poll released by the
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute found 58 percent of
respondents in favor and 36 percent opposed.
“New Yorkers support same-sex
marriage, but their top priorities are the property tax cap and
ethics reform,” said
Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling
Institute.
The pollster found support highest
among Democrats (72%) and independent voters (58%), but a majority of
Republicans (64%) remain opposed. Support for marriage equality
among men and women was nearly identical (58% for men; 59% for
women).
The results mirror an April poll by the
Siena Research Institute at the Siena College in Loudonville, New
York, which also concluded that 58 percent of New Yorkers support gay
marriage.
While support is at an all-time high,
the likelihood of passage this year is quickly fading with less than
2 weeks left in the legislative session.