Most Coloradans oppose gay marriage, but almost as many support giving same-sex couples the same legal benefits married couples have, according to a poll conducted for The Denver Post.
Residents also would oppose a state law prohibiting abortion of a viable fetus.
The poll on seven issues expected on the November ballot gives a glimpse of voters’ impressions before a myriad of campaigns spend fortunes to recruit support on issues that also include illegal immigration and the legalization of marijuana.
“By and large, the average voter is pretty well uninformed on these issues,” said Bob Loevy, a political science professor at Colorado College. “The closer things are at this point … the more likely the decision to mount a campaign and the ability to raise the money and turn that into effective advertising.”
In the contentious debate over gay marriage, support for an amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman is ahead by 19 percentage points, with 55 percent of the 625 people polled in favor. Thirty- six percent opposed the amendment.
The poll of active, registered voters had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Groups on either side of the gay-marriage issue pointed to the results as positive news.
“I think it is interesting that right off the bat we’ve got a big support base without even explaining what we are trying to do,” said Ruben Mendez, vice president of Coloradans for Marriage, the group pushing the marriage amendment. “There are a lot of folks out there that understand what we are doing – that we are not trying to attack homosexuals, we’re just trying to make marriage something that is the same that it has been throughout history.”
Sean Duffy, a Republican political consultant working against the amendment, said he too was encouraged by the results.
“We are very pleased and frankly surprised that the 55 percent number is so low,” he said, noting that early polling in previous state elections has seen approval for marriage amendments in the 60 percent and 70 percent range.
“Given the experience in other states, we would have assumed that in this early going, before any education, … that the ‘yes’ number would be much higher.”
“Marriage” is key word
Fifty percent of people polled statewide favor domestic partnerships that would give same-sex couples similar legal benefits to those married couples enjoy. Forty-one percent oppose such a measure.
Duffy is supporting the ballot issue to create domestic partnerships. He said he is thrilled with an early lead of 9 percentage points.
“People obviously intuitively know that gay and lesbian couples lack fairness in health care and workers compensation and hospital benefits,” he said.
Support or opposition for both the marriage and domestic- partnership amendments tended to run along party lines, with 75 percent of Republicans and 34 percent of Democrats favoring the marriage amendment. Sixty- eight percent of Democrats favor domestic partnerships, as do 33 percent of Republicans.
Brad Coker, managing director of Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc., which conducted the poll last week, said Colorado’s results are not unlike those he has seen across the country.
“The key word is the term ‘marriage,”‘ he said. “There are people out there seeing the word ‘marriage’ as religious sacrament. … They sort of see ‘gay marriage’ as sort of infringing on their religion, and they don’t want government getting involved with their religious beliefs. But at the same time, they are willing to go along with a legal union.”
The partisan nature of the ballot questions also could affect this year’s gubernatorial elections. Gay marriage, abortion, illegal immigration and same-sex benefits are hot-button issues for both sides but have been known in other states to energize conservative voters and draw them out in great numbers.
Restrictions on abortion
Just over half of those polled – 51 percent – said they would oppose prohibiting abortion of a viable fetus, while 35 percent said they would support it. Seventy-two percent of Democrats oppose such a law, compared with a third of Republicans polled.
Colorado Right to Life president Diane Hochevar said the results were disappointing.
“It depresses me,” said Hochevar, whose group voted Saturday to support the ballot question. “It surprises me that the majority would not want to protect a viable unborn child.”
Crystal Clinkenbeard, with Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, called the results “great” but not surprising.
“Coloradans have historically opposed government interference into women’s and families’ personal and private issues,” she said.
Illegal immigration
Restricting state services for illegal immigrants would also be a winner if the election were held today. Of those polled, 59 percent said they would vote to amend the state constitution to limit benefits, compared with 28 percent who said they would not. Thirteen percent said they were undecided.
“If you are illegal, you have broken our laws already,” said Catherine Ewing, 66, a political independent from Colorado Springs who took part in the poll. “Why should my tax money and your tax money go to support someone who has also broken our laws?”
Republican state Rep. David Schultheis of Colorado Springs, who advocates cracking down on illegal immigrants, said the percentage supporting reform looks low.
“I’m surprised that’s all it is,” he said. “That seems like a low number, quite frankly. I expected it to be at 75-80 percent.”
Property and drugs
Limiting the government’s power to use eminent domain to condemn private property for economic development would also win, 49 percent to 38 percent, if the election were held now.
But Coloradans don’t support legalizing marijuana. Fifty-one percent of people polled said they do not support a ballot initiative like the one Denver passed last year to make possession of less than an ounce of marijuana legal.
Mason Tvert, head of the group behind both initiatives, said the numbers were encouraging.
“We plan to register and turn out thousands of new, younger voters,” said Tvert, executive director of Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation, or SAFER.
The poll also showed overwhelming support for creating a multi-state purchasing pool to reduce the cost of prescription drugs for qualified, low-income people. Just 12 percent of respondents said they opposed the pool, compared with 70 percent who supported it.
Republican Rep. Joshua Penry of Grand Junction said support for the prescription-drug purchasing pool could help Democrats, “although the Democrats have thought that health care would be the silver bullet for 10 years.”
Much can change, however, between now and November. While early polls can be useful, House Speaker Andrew Romanoff warned against putting too much stock in them.
“I think people praise polling data when it confirms their position,” he said, “and dismiss polling data when it conflicts with it.”
ABOUT THE POLL
The poll was conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. on Monday through Wednesday. A total of 625 registered voters were selected at random by the last four digits of their phone numbers. A cross-section of telephone exchanges was utilized to ensure an accurate reflection of the state, and quotas were assigned to reflect voter turnout by county. All respondents stated they voted regularly. The margin of error was plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Staff writer Chris Frates contributed to this report. Staff writer George Merritt can be reached at 303-820-1657 or gmerritt@denverpost.com.
