Do Republican presidential candidates need to change their stance on same-sex marriage?
Maybe.
Half of Republican primary and caucus voters in the key early states of New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina said that opposition to same-sex marriage is unacceptable, according to a new NBC News/Marist poll.
Fifty-two percent of those likely to vote in New Hampshire and South Carolina said opposing same-sex marriage is either “mostly” or totally” unacceptable. Forty-seven percent of those likely to vote in Iowa same the same.
And, according to the poll, voters said a candidate’s opposition to same-sex marriage is the most unacceptable position among seven they were questioned about.
The results follow polls that show after decades of solid opposition, a majority of Americans now support marriage between those of the same sex, would accept it if a child of theirs were gay and say it wouldn’t make a difference if a candidate for Congress were gay.
Americans’ change in attitudes has prompted a slew of changes in their political leaders of both parties, though primarily Democrats. Republicans may follow suit.