Posted on Sep 18, 2009 | by Staff

AUGUSTA, Maine (BP)--A ballot initiative that would overturn Maine's recently passed "gay marriage" law has a slight lead in a new poll, although it's well within the margin of error.

According to the poll by Research 2000 commissioned by the liberal blog DailyKos.com, Question 1 leads by a margin of 48-46 percent. The poll interviewed 600 likely voters Sept. 14-16 and has a margin of error of +/- four percent.

If passed, Question 1 -- also known as a people's veto -- would reverse a new "gay marriage" law passed by the Democratic legislature and signed by the Democratic governor. It has yet to take effect and won't do so until voters have a say.

The poll seems to have good news for Question 1 supporters not only because they have a slight lead but also because: 1) the poll was conducted after opponents had been airing TV ads for approximately two weeks and just as supporters were beginning their ad campaign; and 2) the poll question seemed to have been worded in a negative way that favored opponents of Question 1. It read, in part: "A yes vote takes away the right of same-sex couples to marry. A no vote keeps the right of same-sex couples to marry. If the election were held today would you vote YES or NO on this question?"

"The poll results will likely galvanize our opponents to continue to call us fear-mongoring liars, even as legal scholars and other experts in the field -- including some in our opponent's own camp -- independently raise the serious negative effects and conflicts inherent in legalizing homosexual marriage," Marc Mutty, chairman of Stand For Marriage Maine, said in a statement. "As our opponents continue to duck the real issues of the campaign in favor of name-calling, and independent experts substantiate our claims about the negative consequences of LD 1020 becoming law, we have every confidence that we will win the hearts and minds of Mainers on November 3rd."
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Michael Foust is an assistant editor of Baptist Press. For information on how to help pass Question 1, visit StandForMarriageMaine.com. To read how "gay marriage" impacts parental rights and religious freedom click here.