Pollster: Slow Down the Prop.8 Protests

Erica Solvig • The Desert Sun • November 17, 2008

It's clear from the recent rallies that there's plenty of local support to overturn the same-sex marriage ban that voters approved on Election Day.

Mark DiCamillo, director of the Field Poll, a respected independent and nonpartisan public-opinion news service, said it would be “wise to wait for another presidential election and put it on the ballot when there is another big turnout.”

The quality of campaigns aside, he pointed out two key reasons:

The historical trend favors supporters of same-sex marriage.

In 1977, 28 percent approved same-sex marriage and 59 percent opposed, according to the Field Poll. By May of this year, the poll found 51 percent approved and 42 percent opposed.

In lower-turnout elections, typically nonpresidential years, “older voters tend to be a bigger chunk of the vote, and they (same-sex marriage advocates) will find it tough going,” he said.

Earlier this month, a joint media exit poll found that 61 percent of voters ages 18 to 29 opposed the ballot measure. Only 39 percent of voters 65 years and older opposed it.

“I think their chances are going to improve down the road,” DiCamillo said. “Eight years is better than four years, 12 years is better than eight.”

But are supporters ready to wait eight to 12 years? Judging by the outcry and immediate legal fight, it's not likely.

As Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, noted in a Thursday e-mail to supporters:

“Today is the first day of the campaign to overturn Proposition 8 by 2010.”


*So ask yourselves this question: Even if you need to wait a tad longer than you'd prefer for marriage equality to become a reality, wouldn't you actually like it to become a reality, and STAY one this time?