In the wake of President Barack Obama’s highly publicized announcement, a new poll shows that opposition to same-sex marriage has sunk to an historic low.
The Washington Post/ABC News survey released Wednesday shows that a majority of Americans, 53 percent, believe same-sex marriage should be legal, while only 36 percent believe it should be illegal. For perspective, a WaPo/ABC poll from a mere six years ago showed that only 36 percent of Americans supported same-sex marriage.
It’s evidence of the ongoing shift in public opinion of same-sex marriage and perhaps further indication that Obama will not pay a political price for his support for marriage equality; indeed, his new position will likely yield a neutral outcome at the polls.
From the Washington Post:
The president’s announcement may prove to be a wash: Most Americans say Obama’s stance on gay marriage will not play a big role in their vote for president. And the number of voters who say it makes them more apt to support Obama’s bid for reelection is roughly the same as the number who say they are now more likely to oppose a second term for him.
The PollTracker Average also currently shows a majority in support of same-sex marriage.
The ABC/Washington Post survey of 1,004 adults nationwide was conducted May 17-20. It has a margin of error of 3.5 percent.
