LAT Headline Misleads On Own Gay Marriage Poll

May 23rd, 2008 11:17 AM

On the heels of last week's California Supreme Court decision to allow gay marriage, the Los Angeles Times conducted a poll. Today's paper (Fri. 5/23/08) blares the headline at the top of the front page, "Californians barely reject gay marriage" (print edition headline). "Barely"? Here are the poll's two main questions:

Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the California Supreme Court's decision last week to allow same-sex marriage in California?

Strongly disapprove: 42% and Somewhat disapprove: 10%
Strongly approve: 29% and Somewhat approve: 12%

Q: A proposed amendment to the state Constitution that may appear on the November ballot would reverse the court's decision and state that marriage is only between a man and a woman. If the election were held today, would you vote for or against the amendment?

For: 54% ... Against: 35%

So voters "barely" reject gay marriage? Seems pretty cut-and-dry to me that Californians aren't too hip to last week's ruling. If these were election numbers, the results would be pretty decisive.

What's going on?