Where Obama's "evolution" on gay marriage really mattered

Fascinating polling results from Maryland via PPP:

 The referendum to keep the state’s new law legalizing same-sex marriage now appears likely to pass by a healthy margin. Here are some key findings:

-57% of Maryland voters say they’re likely to vote for the new marriage law this fall, compared to only 37% who are opposed. That 20 point margin of passage represents a 12 point shift from an identical PPP survey in early March, which found it ahead by a closer 52/44 margin.

-The movement over the last two months can be explained almost entirely by a major shift in opinion about same-sex marriage among black voters. [emphasis mine] Previously 56% said they would vote against the new law with only 39% planning to uphold it. Those numbers have now almost completely flipped, with 55% of African Americans planning to vote for the law and only 36% now opposed.

-The big shift in attitudes toward same-sex marriage among black voters in Maryland is reflective of what’s happening nationally right now.  A new ABC/Washington Post poll finds 59% of African Americans across the country supportive of same-sex marriage.  A PPP poll in the critical swing state of Pennsylvania last weekend found a shift of 19 points in favor of same-sex marriage among black voters.

Wow– really kind of amazing to see such a dramatic shift of public opinion happen in real time.  Sometimes we think the president can do a lot more than he really can, but when it comes to shifting the political opinions of Black voters, it certainly seems that Obama has the ability to have a dramatic impact.  And, bigger picture, this should presumably only add to the ever-growing national support for same-sex marriage.

About these ads