Raleigh, N.C. – Voters are moving towards favoring same-sex marriage across the country, and Colorado is no exception, as it has joined the ranks of states which now favor legal marriage rights for gay couples. 47% believe same-sex marriage should be legal, and 43% think it should remain illegal. When PPP last polled on the issue in Colorado in August, voters were split at 45%. Independents fall at a 51-39 spread, and both Democrats (from 64-29 in favor to 70-19) and Republicans (from 15-73 against to 20-72) have shifted more towards accepting marriage equality.
Colorado had already strongly favored legal equality for gay couples. 71% wanted them to have at least civil unions, and that has only grown to 76% now, with 42% still preferring full marriage and 34% civil unions. Only 23% want these relationships to have no legal recognition, down from 27%. 87% of Democrats (up nine points), 80% of independents (up four), and even 60% of Republicans (up three) want gay couples to have the same rights and privileges as married heterosexual couples.
Coloradans are even more strongly in favor of legalizing marijuana, and they overwhelmingly believe it at least should be available for medical purposes. 49% think marijuana use should generally be legal, and 40% illegal. But explicitly for medical use, that rises to a 68-25 spread. Just five years ago, a referendum to legalize simple possession by people over 21 failed by 20 points. On the medical question, Democratic support rises from 64% for general use to 78%; Republicans rise from 30% to 50%, and independents from 54% to 75%.
Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow is slightly more popular in his new home as in his college one, Florida, where 59% see him favorably and 16% unfavorably. Here, it is 59-13. In terms of net approval, that makes him more beloved than legendary Broncos QB John Elway, a vice president for the team now. He has a 62-19 favorability spread.
PPP surveyed 793 Colorado voters from December 1st to 4th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-3.5%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews. PPP is a Democratic polling company, but polling expert Nate Silver of the New York Times found that its surveys in 2010 actually exhibited a slight bias toward Republican candidates.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 If there was an election for Congress today,
would you vote Democratic or Republican?
Democratic…………. .46%
Republican…………. .42%
Not sure …………….. .12%
Q2 Do you think same-sex marriage should be
legal or illegal?
Legal …………………. .47%
Illegal ………………… .43%
Not sure …………….. .10%
Q3 Which of the following best describes your
opinion on gay marriage: gay couples should
be allowed to legally marry, or gay couples
should be allowed to form civil unions but not
legally marry, or there should be no legal
recognition of a gay couple’s relationship?
Gay couples should
be allowed to legally
marry…………………..42%
Gay couples should
be allowed to form
civil unions but not
marry…………………..34%
There should be no
legal recognition of
a gay couple’s
relationship ………….23%
Not sure …………….. . 2%
Q4 Do you support or oppose the goals of the
Occupy Wall Street movement?
Support ……………… .41%
Oppose ……………… .39%
Not sure …………….. .21%
Q5 Do you support or oppose the goals of the Tea
Party movement?
Support ……………… .37%
Oppose ……………… .48%
Not sure …………….. .15%
Q6 Do you have a higher opinion of the Occupy
Wall Street movement or the Tea Party
movement?
Occupy Wall Street .43%
Tea Party …………… .39%
Not sure …………….. .18%
Q7 In general, do you think that marijuana usage
should be legal or illegal?
Legal …………………. .49%
Illegal ………………… .40%
Not sure …………….. .10%
Q8 Do you think that marijuana usage specifically
for medical purposes should be legal or illegal?
Legal …………………. .68%
Illegal ………………… .25%
Not sure …………….. . 7%
Q9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Tim Tebow?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 59%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 13%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 28%
Q10 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of John Elway?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 62%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 19%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 19%
Q11 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of John Fox?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 39%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 12%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 49%
Q12 Is your favorite college in Colorado the Air
Force Academy, the University of Colorado,
Colorado College, Colorado State, Denver,
Northern Colorado, or something else?
Air Force ………………………………………………… 17%
U of Colorado………………………………………….. 22%
Colorado College …………………………………….. 6%
Colorado State………………………………………… 17%
Denver …………………………………………………… 5%
Northern Colorado …………………………………… 6%
Something else/Don’t have a favorite school .. 26%
Q13 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 11%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 18%
Moderate………………………………………………… 32%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 25%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 14%
Q14 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 52%
Man……………………………………………………….. 48%
Q15 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 37%
Republican……………………………………………… 35%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 28%
Q16 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If other, press 3.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 15%
White …………………………………………………….. 79%
Other……………………………………………………… 6%
Q17 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are
older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 15%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 27%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 38%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%