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Minnesota Poll Shows Almost Even Split On Same-Sex Marriage Ban

MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- In a poll commissioned by the Star Tribune newspaper last week, results show that Minnesota voters in favour of a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage only have a two point lead over those opposed. Published Sunday, results indicated that those in favour were 49% versus those opposed which stood at 47% with a 4% sampling undecided.
The breakdowns ran along party lines although independents played a dominant factor:
Party            Yes     No      Undecided
Democrat 24% 73% 3%
Republican 78% 22%     -
Independent 55% 38% 7%
The Tribune also polled on the question asking:If same-sex couples are not allowed to marry, do you support or oppose allowing civil unions that would grant the same legal status as marriage?
There was a decidedly different outcome as support for civil unions ran 63% versus those opposed ran 23% and those undecided polled at 9%.
Along party lines the independents led by a 66% in favour of civil unions versus 27% saying no while Democrats polled answered in at 79% in favour of civil unions and 11% opposed. Republicans polled similarly with 55% in favour of civil unions vs. 34% saying no.
Source: Star Tribune Minnesota Poll, Sept. 17-19, 800 likely voters, margin of error +-3.5 percentage points.