-Support is growing for the legalization of medical marijuana in Massachusetts, which is likely to be on the ballot this fall. 57% of voters say they are in favor of it to 33% who are opposed, representing an increase in support from March when the spread was 53/35. This breaks down very much as a generational issue with all three age groups under 65 giving it more than 60% support, but seniors opposed by a 47/39 margin.
Voters are also leaning toward legalizing assisted suicide in the state, but it looks like that one will be a lot closer. Right now 45% say they support that to 36% who are opposed.
-53% of voters approve of John Kerry to 38% who disapprove of him, a slight improvement from his 50/38 spread on PPP's March Massachusetts poll. Kerry narrowly edges out Scott Brown, 47-43, when voters are asked who their favorite Senator is. That speaks to how tight the Senate race would be this fall no matter who the Democrats had on the ballot- Brown is an extremely formidable politician. Deval Patrick has a 49% approval rating with 43% of voters disapproving of him.
-Massachusetts was already more supportive of gay marriage than just about any state in the country, but that support has increased further over the last three months. 62% of voters now say they support gay marriage being legal to only 30% who think it should be illegal. That's up from a 58/31 spread in March.
Most voters in the state say that the legalization of gay marriage there has not been a big deal- 64% say it's had no impact on their lives to 20% who think it's been a positive thing and 16% who believe it's been negative. Even among voters opposed to gay marriage 61% grant that its being legal hasn't affected their lives at all.
-2014 could bring the redemption of the much derided Martha Coakley if she decided to run for Governor.
-Red Sox nation isn't real thrilled with the job Bobby Valentine is doing as manager, but they're not ready to give up on him yet either. Just 33% of fans approve of Valentine's job performance to 25% who disapprove with 42% not holding an opinion one way or the other. Only 17% have already come to the conclusion that he should be fired to 52% who think he should stay on.
But there's no doubt Sox fans are feeling a lot less optimistic about this season than they were three months ago. Before the season began 82% thought they would make the playoffs and 20% believed they would win the World Series. Now only 54% think they'll make the playoffs with just 7% believing they'll win it all.
For Red Sox fans Terry Francona's that ex-boyfriend you just can't quite let go of. 46% of fans say they'd like to see him return to manage the team again someday to only 27% opposed to that concept.
Roger Clemens' acquittal hasn't bought him much forgiveness with the Red Sox fan base. 22% see him favorably to 59% with a negative opinion, numbers little changed from March when he was at 23/56.
Full results here
Thanks for polling those ballot measures.
Posted by: Mark B. | June 29, 2012 at 01:16 PM