Raleigh, N.C. – Though gay marriage is becoming increasingly popular nationwide, it still hasn’t reached plurality support in New Mexico. Support in New Mexico for legal gay marriage is only 42-48. Even though Democrats outnumber Republicans 51-32 in New Mexico, voters still oppose gay marriage overall due to weaker than average support among Democrats. Democrats in New Mexico support legal gay marriage only 58-34 compared to 73-20 in Minnesota, and 68-19 in Oregon. While gay marriage fails to win plurality support in an up or down vote, it does reach a plurality when civil unions are an option. 37% of voters would support legal gay marriage, compared to 31% who support civil unions, and 30% who oppose all recognition.
Governor Susana Martinez remains quite popular with 52% of voters approving and 37% disapproving. Her disapproval is up a bit from February, when she rated 53-29. She benefits from strong crossover support. 32% of Democrats approve of her while only 56% disapprove. Martinez would fare well in a do-over of the 2010 election. She leads Diane Denish 53-44. Martinez, Haley in South Carolina, and Sandoval in Nevada are the only newly elected Republican governors PPP has polled who would win in a hypothetical do-over election.
New Mexico’s two Democratic senators also rate well. 48% approve of Tom Udall compared to 31% who disapprove. Jeff Bingaman is especially popular with twice as many approving as disapproving. He rates 58-29, an equivalent spread to his pre-retirement rating of 56-27 in February. Bingaman also benefits from crossover support, rating a solid 33-52 among Republicans.
While New Mexico likes its current crop of officeholders, it’s a different story with former governor Bill Richardson. In his case, absence has not made the heart grow fonder. Only 27% have a favorable opinion of Richardson compared to 63% who have an unfavorable opinion.
PPP surveyed 732 New Mexico voters from June 23rd to 26th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-3.6%. 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 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor
Susana Martinez’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 52%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 37%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q2 If you could do last fall’s election for Governor
over again, would you vote for Republican
Susana Martinez or Democrat Diane Denish?
Susana Martinez……………………………………… 53%
Diane Denish ………………………………………….. 44%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 4%
Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Tom
Udall’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 48%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 31%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 21%
Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Jeff
Bingaman’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 58%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 29%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Steve Pearce?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 40%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 40%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 20%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Ben Ray Lujan?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 30%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 34%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 35%
Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Bill Richardson?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 27%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 63%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%
Q8 Do you think same-sex marriage should be
legal or illegal?
Legal……………………………………………………… 42%
Illegal …………………………………………………….. 48%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%
Q9 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 ……………………………………………………..37%
Gay couples should be allowed to form civil
unions but not marry …………………………………31%
There should be no legal recognition of a gay
couple’s relationship …………………………………30%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 2%
Q10 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 37%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 53%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 10%
Q11 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 13%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 20%
Moderate………………………………………………… 29%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 19%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 19%
Q12 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 54%
Man……………………………………………………….. 46%
Q13 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 ……………………………………………….. 51%
Republican……………………………………………… 32%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 17%
Q14 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If other, press 3.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 39%
White …………………………………………………….. 49%
Other……………………………………………………… 12%
Q15 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………………………………………………….. 22%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 41%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 22%
