Obama leads by 46 points among homosexual voters

by    Michael Foust                                                                                                                              Vol. XXI, No. 7, September 2008

It's no secret that the homosexual community forms part of Barack Obama's base, and a new Harris Interactive poll shows the presumptive Democratic nominee holding a 46-point lead over Republican John McCain among that group.

Obama, who has gone further than any previous major presidential candidate in making pledges to the homosexual community, leads McCain 60-14 percent among homosexuals, The Advocate reported. Three percent chose Libertarian Bob Barr, 1% Ralph Nader and 17% were undecided. The online poll of 2,690 adults (homosexual and non-homosexual) was conducted July 3-11.

Even though Obama hasn't publicly stated his support for "gay marriage," his comments on the issue have resulted in enthusiastic support from homosexuals. For instance, he opposes proposed constitutional marriage amendments in California, Arizona, and Florida – a position that even John Kerry, from left-leaning Massachusetts, did not take when he was the 2004 nominee. Kerry publicly criticized his state's high court for legalizing "gay marriage" and backed a proposed marriage amendment that would have overturned the Massachusetts ruling. Recently, when California's high court legalized "gay marriage," Obama released a statement saying he respected the decision.

Obama also has pledged to overturn the military's don't ask, don't tell policy, which prevents homosexuals from serving openly, and the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which was passed in 1996 with the goal of giving states the option of not recognizing another state's "gay marriages." Kerry voted against DOMA in 1996 but when running for president in 2004 did not support its repeal.

Obama also has written letters spelling out his support for the homosexual community.

"As the Democratic nominee for President," he wrote this year to the Alice B. Toklas Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Democratic Club, "I am proud to join with and support the LGBT community in an effort to set our nation on a course that recognizes LGBT Americans with full equality under the law. That is why I support extending fully equal rights and benefits to same sex couples under both state and federal law.... I look forward to working with you in the coming months and years, and I wish you all continued success."