Voters More Focused on Jobs and Health Care, Not Gay Marriage
Despite the ongoing controversy regarding President Barack Obama's endorsement of same-sex marriage, a new CBS News/New York Times poll that surveyed over 500 registered voters has found that only seven percent of respondents believe it will be a top issue this coming November.
Obama's comments may have disappointed those supporting the traditional definition of marriage, but according to the results of the poll, Americans are by far and wide mainly concerned with the economy – over 60 percent rated it as a top issue.
Among the concerns registered voters listed as caring most about, 62 percent chose the economy and jobs. In second place came a related issue – the federal budget deficit, with 11 percent of the votes. Health care, at nine percent, was also above gay marriage, which was at seven percent. Foreign policy was only chosen by four percent of respondents, and in last place came immigration with a two percent share.
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Voters' perception of the state of the economy has improved somewhat from recent years, with 32 percent believing it is in good shape – but 67 percent still think it is bad. In April, only 27 percent of respondents shared that sentiment – in fact, this is the most positive Americans have been about the economy since Jan. 2008, when 38 percent believed it was in good shape.
The poll found that while 58 percent of respondents said that Obama's same-sex marriage endorsement will not sway the way they vote, the president is likely to receive an extremely low level of support from members of the Republican Party, with only five percent saying they would vote for him. What is more, 12 percent of Democrats also expressed that they are now less likely to back the president, as well as 22 percent of independents.
GOP candidate Mitt Romney, on the other hand, enjoyed more support from independents on the gay marriage issue, with 20 percent saying they are more likely to back him for office after his endorsement of traditional marriage.
On the issue of gay marriage itself, Americans remain largely divided. Thirty-eight percent believe same-sex couples should be allowed to marry and twenty-four percent are fine with allowing them civil unions, while 33 percent do not believe same-sex couples should have any legal recognition.
The CBS News/New York Times poll was conducted by telephone from May 11-13.
