A majority of New Jersey voters say gay
marriage should be legal, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton
Poll released Friday.
Fifty-two percent of the 903 adults
contacted by telephone (landline and cell phone) from October 6-9
said “same-sex marriage” should be legalized. Approval jumps up
to 61 percent when the term “marriage equality” is substituted.
Opposed to the union are 39 percent
when the term “same-sex marriage” is used and 27 percent when the
term is exchanged with “marriage equality.”
“Support for legalizing same-sex
relations in New Jersey continues to be solid,” said poll Director
David Redlawsk, a professor of political science at Rutgers
University. “Young people are overwhelmingly in favor, though a
majority of all age groups is supportive, except for those 65 and
over. Whatever it is called, support for state recognition of
same-sex marriage remains strong and most likely will grow over
time.”
Least likely to be affected by changing
the terminology of the question are Republicans, people with some
college education and those with a gay or lesbian family member,
friend or acquaintance.
“Republicans are clearly not moved by
a change in terminology,” noted Redlawsk. “This suggest that
their opposition to legalizing same-sex marriage is deep and unlike
to change easily. Likewise, those with some college education, who
are already pretty supportive of gay marriage, do not become more so
simply because the words change.”
Only 36 percent of Republicans support
gay marriage, regardless of how the question is framed.