The leading pollsters for President G.W. Bush and President Obama have released a joint memo revealing their findings that support for marriage equality is increasingly safe ground for politicians and support for marriage has accelerated dramatically over the past two years. The memo, (PDF here), by Joel Benenson of the Benenson Strategy Group and Jan van Lohuizen of Voter Consumer Research found a substantial majority of people under 50 support marriage, which isn't so surprising, but support is up among all ages and political persuasions. The surge of support is being driven by independents.
"Ultimately, things are changing very quickly because support levels are up in all age and party categories. This allows one to conclude that many adults are rethinking their position, and it is taking place at all age levels and among all partisans, including older Americans and Republicans. Attitudes are changing at a slower pace among older adults and conservatives, but they’re changing."
Perhaps most most significantly, the intensity gap between marriage equality opponents and supporters seems to have shifted.
"Our survey of historical data shows that intensity of opinion is shifting as well. Where previously opponents of marriage for same-sex couples held their views more strongly than marriage supporters, this is no longer the case. Support has not just grown it has intensified as well."
Read the whole thing. Intensity has always been equality opponent's greatest strength. They believe in their cause and work tirelessly. Without that, change will come more quickly than any of us could have imagined.
h/t LC NY Bureau Chief Doug.
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