The new Quinnipiac poll of Florida shows a majority of voters there oppose same-sex marriage, already banned under the state constitution.
Among voters surveyed, 50 percent said they oppose same-sex marriage, while 40 percent support. But when given a three-way choice, 36 percent same-sex couples actually should be allowed to marry, 34 percent support their right to form a legal union but not marry, while 23 percent believe they should not receive any legal recognition of their relationships. Florida passed a constitutional amendment in 2008 that defined marriage as union between a man and a woman.
But gay marriage will likely have little impact on the presidential race there: 63 percent of voters said President Barack Obama’s recent support of same-sex marriage will makae no difference on their vote, while 59 percent likewise said that Mitt Romney’s opposition to civil unions will not be a factor.
The Quinnipiac poll, released Wednesday, also showed Romney besting Obama in Florida, 46 percent to 41 percent.
