Washington, May 9 (Xinhua-ANI): The number of Americans who back same-sex marriage has dropped slightly from a record high last year amid differences between the country's major political camps, as most Democrats and Independents support and a majority of Republicans oppose gay marriage.
Fifty percent of Americans believe same-sex marriages should be recognized as legitimate, with the same rights as traditional marriages, a figure down slightly from 53 percent last year, while 48 percent say such marriages should not be legal, according to a Gallup poll released Tuesday.
Last year marked the first time that a majority favored a legalization of gay marriage. Prior to last year, the highest level of support had been 46 percent, measured in 2007. In 1996, when Gallup first asked the question, 27 percent supported it, while 68 percent opposed.
The issue of same-sex marriage sharply divides the U.S. public along political and religious lines. Almost two-thirds Democrats support legalizing it, compared with 57 percent of Independents and 22 percent of Republicans, Gallup found.
This year's results underscore just how divided the nation is on this issue, Gallup found. As a result, President Barack Obama's campaign strategy team obviously is continuing to grapple with how to handle it-with Vice President Joe Biden on the one hand essentially endorsing legalized gay marriage, and the administration on the other hand stopping short of the same pronouncement.
Obama's core constituency of Democrats strongly supports the issue, as does the majority of the important election group of Independents, Gallup said.
The poll comes on the heels of Biden's remarks on Sunday's "Meet the Press" TV talk show that he was "absolutely comfortable" with the idea that same-sex couples and heterosexual couples are "entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties."
President Obama, however, does not support legalizing same-sex marriage, and instead favors same-sex civil unions.
Critics decry Obama's stance as confusing. The president has said his view on the issue is "evolving," so it is possible he will eventually go on record as supporting gay marriage. But for now, he officially remains opposed, Gallup said.
The dynamic could play into November's presidential elections, as Obama's Republican opponent Mitt Romney has expressed opposition to gay marriage.
"Romney's stance on same-sex marriage may hurt him with Independent voters," said Darrell M. West, vice president and director of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution.
"Democrats have floated trial balloons to see how people react to gay marriage. Strategists will watch how the White House is tip-toeing towards support for same-sex marriage and the North Carolina vote tonight (in the state's Republican primary) and decide whether the time is right for a policy recalibration," West said.
With the age divide on this issue, it is only a matter of time before Democratic politicians embrace this issue, West said. If it doesn't happen this year, leading Democratic candidates in 2016 will almost certainly embrace same-sex marriage, he said.
A decision on the issue hinges on the dozen swing states. "The North Carolina referendum will tell us a lot about how voters in a conservative swing state feel about this issue," West said.
For his part, Romney has to be careful that this issue doesn't detract from his economic message, West said. The expert suggested that Romney's best strategy is to stay focused on high unemployment and not to get distracted by social or cultural issues that help him consolidate his base but alienate him from other Americans. (Xinhua-ANI)
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