The new Siena poll in New York State shows that a majority of registered voters here favor legalizing gay marriage — a push that currently has the support of Gov. David Paterson and others, but is not guaranteed passage in the state Senate.
The numbers: 53% favor, 39% oppose, with a ±3.8% margin of error. The internals show all regions of the state (New York City, the suburbs and Upstate) support it by various margins.
Among religious sub-groups, only 41% of Protestants favor it to 53% against, Jews favor it 64%-32% — and Catholics favor it by a 49%-41% plurality. In the racial cross-tabs, Whites are in favor 56%-36%, Latinos are for it 57%-31%, and African-Americans oppose it with 44% in favor to 49% against.
The interplay of racial and religious politics could very well determine whether this proposal sinks in the Senate, or ends up signed into law.
