Amendment One Ad Wars
With polls showing opposition to Amendment One gaining marginal ground and support slipping, both sides are ramping up their messaging efforts with TV ad buys leading into the May 8 vote. This from Public Policy Polling:
This is the lowest level of support PPP has found in monthly polling of the amendment since last October. When PPP first polled on it six months ago 61% supported it with only 34% opposed, so its current 14 point lead has been cut almost in half from the 27 point advantage it started out with.
There is some reason to think a huge upset in two weeks is within the realm of possibility. 53% of voters in the state support either gay marriage or civil unions, with only 44% opposed to any recognition for same sex couples. The proposed amendment would ban both gay marriage and civil unions, but voters continue to be confused about that. Just 36% correctly identify that it would ban both while 26% think it bans only gay marriage, 10% think it actually legalizes gay marriage, and 27% admit that they don’t know what it does.
With that as a backdrop, Protect All NC Families rolled out one ad spot that focuses on domestic violence laws and another that features a mother who is concerned her 4-year-old daughter will lose insurance coverage. In turn, Vote For Marriage NC hit back with an ad that refutes those claims, accusing anti-amendment advocates of trying to “scare voters with false claims.”
Exit question: will any of this be enough to sway opinions – pro or con – before May 8, or at least educate voters about what’s actually on the ballot?
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