Public opinion is not only divided over issues affecting the gay community, but over the influence gays and lesbians will have on Election Day. TV channel TRIO commissioned a Harris Interactive poll asking Americans what kind of an impact the gay community will have on the outcome of this presidential election.
The poll was conducted in conjunction with TRIO's election night programming, including the premiere of the original documentary, Gay Republicans Nov. 2.
Of those polled, 55% said that President Bush's views on gays won't affect on his campaign for re-election with only 11% indicating that his views would improve the President's chance at re-election. That said, more than half of U.S. adults polled ࿗%) did admit that the gay and lesbian community has an impact on politics in general.
In the opinion of Americans' polled, the world view of the U.S. would change if the President of the United States were openly gay or lesbian. More than half of U.S. adults ࿔%) felt that an openly gay or lesbian President would negatively affect global opinion of the U.S. Only 4% felt that the global community would respond favorably to a gay or lesbian U.S. President.
When asked if they would vote for a gay presidential candidate—48% said they would not, while 42% said they would.
See www.harrisinteractive.com .