Raleigh, N.C. – Add Michigan to the growing list of states that are experiencing significant shifts in support for gay marriage.
70% of Michigan voters believe gay couples should either be allowed to marry or form civil unions, up from 62% in August, when Michigan voters were last polled on their opinion of gay marriage. A majority (51%) of state Republicans think gay couples should either be allowed to marry or form civil unions.
While a plurality (45%) of Michigan voters think same-sex marriage should be illegal, this number is down 8 points from August, symbolizing a notable shift in public opinion in the state.
In other states that have seen recent spikes in support for gay marriage, it is almost always the case that African-American voters are the leading transformative demographic. But this is not the case in Michigan—African Americans in Michigan have not budged since they polled 68% in August for gay marriage or civil union support. White voters have improved 8 points to 70% in their support for gay marriages or civil unions since August.
Six-term Democratic Senator Carl Levin has similarly seen his popularity increase—his approval rating is up 2 points to 46% since February, when his approval rating was last polled. But other Michigan public figures are not as positively received as Senator Levin.
In fact, none of the four Michigan-raised celebrities about whom voters were asked received marks as high as Senator Levin’s. Crossover artist Kid Rock was the most popular Michigan-raised celebrity with 42% favorability, and rocker/conservative activist Ted Nugent came in a distant second with 32% favorability. Author/filmmaker Michael Moore and rapper Eminem rounded out the bottom two with 30% and 26% favorability, respectively.
41% of Michigan voters are fans of the University of Michigan, while 31% are fans of Michigan State University.
PPP surveyed 500 Michigan voters from May 24th to 27th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-4.4%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Ted Nugent?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 32%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 38%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 30%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Kid Rock?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 42%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 25%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 33%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Michael Moore?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 30%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 46%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 23%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Eminem?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 26%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 34%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 39%
Q5 Do you have a higher opinion of Michael Moore
or Ted Nugent?
Michael Moore ………………………………………… 41%
Ted Nugent …………………………………………….. 35%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 25%
Q6 Do you have a higher opinion of Eminem or Kid
Rock?
Eminem………………………………………………….. 18%
Kid Rock ………………………………………………… 40%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 43%
Q7 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Carl
Levin’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .46%
Disapprove…………. .38%
Not sure …………….. .17%
Q8 If there was an election for state legislature
today, would you vote Democratic or
Republican?
Democratic……………………………………………… 50%
Republican……………………………………………… 35%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%
Q9 Do you think same-sex marriage should be
legal or illegal?
Legal……………………………………………………… 41%
Illegal …………………………………………………….. 45%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%
Q10 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 ……………………………………………………..39%
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 …………………………………27%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 3%
Q11 Are you more a Michigan or Michigan State
fan?
Michigan ………………………………………………… 41%
Michigan State ………………………………………… 31%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 28%
Q12 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 37%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 53%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 10%
Q13 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 11%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 23%
Moderate………………………………………………… 30%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 22%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 15%
Q14 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 56%
Man……………………………………………………….. 44%
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 ……………………………………………….. 38%
Republican……………………………………………… 28%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 34%
Q16 If you are white, press 1. If African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 78%
African-American …………………………………….. 14%
Other……………………………………………………… 9%
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………………………………………………….. 14%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 27%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 39%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
