Survey points to Bush edge - California

[Kadie]

Survey points to Bush edge

State's voters oppose gay marrige -- a possible selling point for the president.

By Clea Benson -- Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 2:15 am PDT Friday, June 4, 2004

President Bush's opposition to same-sex marriage could help him make up ground against John Kerry in California, according to statewide survey results released Thursday.

Bush has steadfastly opposed gay marriage and has proposed a constitutional amendment defining matrimony as a union between a man and a woman. Democratic presidential contender Kerry has taken a more nuanced position, saying he opposes gay marriage but favors same-sex civil unions.

A nonpartisan Field Poll found that both undecided voters and voters overall in California were against same-sex marriages by a margin of 5-to-4.

snip...
"It could be significant in certain markets where they're trying to get swing voters," DiCamillo said. "This poll shows that even in California, (the same-sex marriage issue) has the potential of adding some support to the president."

snip...
And results of the same poll showed Californians were less and less inclined to re-elect Bush because their dissatisfaction with the war in Iraq was increasing. Overall, the poll found Kerry leading Bush 51 percent to 39 percent in California in a three-way race including independent Ralph Nader, with Nader drawing 4 percent support and 6 percent undecided.

more... http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/election/polls/story/9530448p-10454281c.html




This article is crap. They are saying bushie gets the edge because of gay marriage, yet Kerry is leading in the poll 51 to 39. There was so much spin when I was reading this is caused a breeze in my house.

[MallRat]

1. Bush will gain 12 points on gay marriage?

And monkeys will fly out of my butt, too!

-MR

[livetohike]

2. Misleading Sacramento Bee Title

Shame on them!

Kerry will take CA in Nov. no problem. Or else it will be time for me to leave the country! :-)

[peterh]

6. the bee must be trying to increase it’s circulation in Elk Grove…

:eyes:

[ps1074]

3. This is stupid

If I am not mistaken Kerry oppose it too. So, how can Bush gain on this issue since they both oppose it?

[barbaraann]

4. Well, I am seeing Arnold tv ads up here in Washington State.

A couple of days ago there was an ad ostensibly promoting California tourism that was actually a showcase for (yuk) Maria and Arnold. They ARE grooming him for national leadership.

I think all of the pro-Arnold propaganda might be helping Bush and I'm worried that the Schwarzeneggers might spend a lot of time campaigning for Bush/Cheney.

[David__77]

5. I think that this won't matter.

For one thing, Bush won't run any commercials mentioning this--not in California. That would be risky. It would decimate him in the coastal regions and ensure a progressive mobilization against him. Many of those 53% favor "civil unions." I was at a bbq this past weekend with some right-wingers, and they were all for civil unions and really were uncomfortable even disagreeing with same-sex marriage, even though they fall into that category. The only ones who are really out there opposing it are already firmly in Bush's camp. The others might think Bush wasting time on this issue instead of focusing on the economy or something.

[genius]

7. I don't think most people really care about gay marriage.

Most aren't gay and, depending on how the survey is done, that's what it may reflect.

[slackmaster]

9. I agree - to most people it's no big deal

n/t

[CaliforniaLady]

8. Thank Bush's War for making gay marriage a tiny issue!

As I recall, the 2000 election included a ballot measure to
define marriage as between a man and a woman.   The vote in
favor was 61% and, according to the LA Times exit polls,
Latinos and Blacks voted at higher percentages than others.

If Bushie had not taken us to war, the issue of same-sex
marriage would certainly make a difference in the 2004
election.

The 2004 election is mainly about the war in Iraq!

 

[tjwash]

10. Yep, it was called the "family values" act.

And it was about as pertinent and important as "turn right on a red light." Besides most of the the single issue voters never go out and actually vote anyway. Meanwhile, the same people would turn around and vote to let enron butt rape the entire state because they won't read nor care about any of the rest of the issues.

[CaliforniaLady]

11. While the San Francisco gay marriages were happening, Kerry..

Kerry was on the local news here in California and made the statement "everyone knows I'm against same-sex marriage"....
so this will not affect Californians stance on what they previously voted a referendum on.