New Jerseyans support a law that would allow same sex couples to marry, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released this morning.  The proposed law, which would be voted on by legislators later this year, is backed 49%-43% -- a huge increase from a December 2007 Quinnipiac poll that showed 50% of state voters opposing same-sex marriage.  And nearly two-thirds of the voters back the existing civil union law.

Public support for marriage equality comes even after the National Organization for Marriage launched a reported $1.5 million TV ad campaign opposing same-sex marriage in New Jersey.

By a 66%-30%, New Jersey voters reject the argument that same-sex marriage ""is a threat to the traditional marriage between a man and a woman."

"Legislators, take note:  No matter what lies our opponents throw on television, New Jersey stands by marriage equality and will stand by you when you vote to end discrimination in marriage in 2009," said Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality.

When New Jersey voters are offered three choices:

• 42 percent say same-sex couples should be allowed to marry;
• 30 percent say same-sex couples should be allowed to form civil unions, but not marry;
• 20 percent oppose any legal recognition of same-sex relationships.

"Two years after New Jersey's civil union law went into effect, sentiment for allowing same-sex marriage in the state has shifted from six points against to six points in favor," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.  "Support for the same-sex civil union law has risen dramatically and New Jersey voters do not see gay marriage as a threat to traditional marriages between a man and a woman. Support for allowing gay couples to adopt children is nearly 2 - 1." 

Six out of ten voters believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children.   

With an independent poll released this morning showing more New Jerseyans in favor of gay marriage than against it, three of the state’s most conservative legislators repeated their call for the issue to be put to a popular vote.

“Some people try to use these polls as a replacement for the democratic process in which every citizen has an opportunity to participate,” said Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose (R-Franklin) in a press release.  “A few hundred people answering a telephone solicitation is not a vote.”

Today's Monmouth University/Gannett poll found that 48% of respondents favored gay marriage, while 43% opposed it.  

McHose sponsored legislation in the assembly that would create a ballot question to amend the state constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.  Her district-mate, state Sen. Steve Oroho, is the prime sponsor of the senate version.  

Fourty-three percent of the poll’s respondents said they favored a ban like the one McHose proposes.  Fifty percent said they opposed it. 

Our first list of New Jersey's Best Political Operatives, from March 2000:

The state’s Civil Union Review Commission today called on the state government to enact same-sex marriage after finding that civil unions do not result in equal treatment.

“After eighteen public meetings, 26 hours of oral testimony and hundreds of pages of written submission from more than 150 witnesses, this Commission finds that the separate categorization established by the Civil Union Act invites and encourages unequal treatment of same-sex couples and their children,” read the first paragraph of its report.

The committee, which includes several public officials and seven members appointed by the Governor, Senate President and Assembly Speaker, recommended that same-sex marriage be enacted "expeditiously because any delay in marriage equality will harm all the people of New Jersey." Members included Annlynne Benson, director of Gloucester County Right-to-Life, and Garden State Equality Chairman Steven Goldstein.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REPORT

Garden State Equality Chair Steven Goldstein is a Clinton delegate from New JerseyDENVER -- With a captive audience, leadership of the LGBT advocacy organization Garden State Equality made a push this morning for legislation that would legalize gay marriage in New Jersey.

The group even opened the floor to ask for new legislative co-sponsors to the current bill. Assembly members Gordon Johnson, Joan Quigley, Pamela Lampitt and Nellie Pou all signed on, as did State Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham.

Chair Steven Goldstein lead the group’s efforts, detailing a recent poll that the group conducted on the issue and several state races and drawing their attention to Speaker Joseph Roberts’s support of gay marriage. But Goldstein made his most powerful appeal by telling a personal story.

Former President Jimmy Carter at the Democratic National Convention in Denver this evening: Getty Images Photo
When former president Jimmy Carter took the stage for a brief appearance at the Democratic National Convention, most delegates leapt to their feet and cheered.

Noticeably silent and still were a few Jewish delegates from New Jersey, who stayed in their seats.

Although at least two of them have a reputation as being quite liberal, they had a problem with Carter’s views on Israel, and most notably the book he penned on the subject: Palestine Peace Not Apartheid.

The selection of Sam Nunn as a vice presidential candidate could cost Barack Obama the support of gay voters: Getty Images Photo
The leader of the state’s largest gay rights organization and a Clinton delegate to next week’s Democratic National Convention says that the nomination of former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.) for Vice President would stop him from voting for Barack Obama.

“If Barack Obama were to choose Sam Nunn as his running mate, the highest placed office on the ballot for which I would cast a vote would be U.S. Senate,” said Garden State Equality Chairman Steven Goldstein, who will attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver next week.

Nunn’s name has been floated as a potential running mate for Democratic candidates during most elections over the last two decades, and while this year is no exception, he’s not considered a likely pick. Still, some Democrats see the “moderate-to-conservative” Nunn, who left office in 1997, as a way to appeal to groups that traditionally vote Republican.

On the heels of a poll commissioned by a LGBT rights organization that said the majority of New Jersey voters favor allowing gay marriage, Assemblyman Michael Doherty (R-Washington Township) pushed for his own legislation that would call for an amendment to the state constitution that would allow New Jerseyans to vote on the issue.

“The people of New Jersey should have the final say on this fundamental issue and it’s time to allow their voices to be heard so that we can put this diversion behind us and move forward on real issues that are affecting our residents,” said Doherty in a press release.

Meanwhile, Steven Goldstein – chair of Garden State Equality, which paid for the Zogby poll – took the opportunity to invite Doherty to his own wedding next year.

“He’s entitled to his view and I look forward to welcoming him to my wedding in New Jersey in 2009,” said Goldstein. “Honestly, if he’d like to be in the wedding party, he’s more than welcome. I’ll personally buy him any tuxedo of his choosing.”

New Jersey’s main gay-rights organization today endorsed incumbent Frank Lautenberg over Rep. Rob Andrews in the Democratic Senate primary.

The group’s chairman, Steven Goldstein, said that both were “outstanding” candidates, but that they would stick with the tried-and-true Lautenberg, who has been “our greatest champion of equality.”

Goldstein cited Lautenberg’s coauthoring of the Ryan White AIDS Care Act in 1990, and his fight for increased federal funding for HIV and AIDS treatment since then.

Frank Lautenberg, who at age 84 will seek a fifth term as a United States Senator from New Jersey. If he wins, he’d become the oldest and longest-serving Senator in state history. But a sudden retirement could turn New Jersey politics upside-down.

Common Sense America Executive Director Brian Brown and Garden State Equality Chairman Steven Goldstein go to battle over a likely vote next year on same sex marriage.

John Adler, the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman who is seeking to become the first Democratic Congressman from Jim Saxton’s district since 1994. And watch Frank LoBiondo, if Jeff Van Drew decides he wants to be a Congressman

Kate Whitman, the smart and talented daughter of former Governor Christine Todd Whitman, who is seeking an open congressional seat in the 5th district. Also, Whitman’s primary opponent, Sen. Leonard Lance, and the Democratic nominee, Assemblywoman Linda Stender. And note that in 2007, Whitman lost a convention for Somerset Freeholder, Lance was a PolitickerNJ.com Loser of the Year Runner-Up, and Stender ran the 11th Worst Campaign of the Year.

Charlotte DeFilippo, the veteran Union County Democratic Chair, had her records as Executive Director of the Union County Improvement Authority subpoenaed by the state Attorney General’s office.

Steve Ayscue, who has made George Norcross’ political jets arrive on time for years, has emerged as one of the most powerful political insiders in South Jersey, with considerable responsibility for Democratic wins in State Senate races and beyond.

Matthew Boxer, who survived a contemptuous confirmation process to become New Jersey’s first State Comptroller, will be held accountable as the guy charged with making a government some view as out of control operate more efficiently.

Troy Singleton, an aide to Carpenters Union leader Frank Spencer and a close confidante of Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts.

The Group – the key fundraisers for Hillary Clinton’s New Jersey presidential campaign: John Graham, Alfred De- Cotiis, Michael Kempner, Bill Harla, Rev. Reginald Jackson, and Meryl Frank, have created a structure that will make them sought after by candidates in the future. Bill Layton, the newly elected Burlington County Republican Chairman, will now be held accountable for the success and failure of GO P candidates in Burlington.

Dennis Shulman, a blind Rabbi/Psychoanalyst, is seeking the Democratic nomination for Congress in the fifth district. He wants to challenge Rep. Scott Garrett.

Two veteran New Jersey operatives get a chance to manage in the major leagues: Brendan Gill, who has worked for Steve Rothman, Bill Pascrell and others, will manage U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg’s campaign. His possible rival will be Mark Duffy, who has worked for Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce and has run campaigns in Mercer and Monmouth counties, will be Republican Anne Evans Estabrook’s campaign manager.

Two of the state’s leading young Hispanic politicians are Teresa Ruiz, who became the first Latina to win a seat in the State Senate, and Newark City Councilman Anibal Ramos, who could emerge as a mayoral candidate – especially if Cory Booker falters.

New Jersey AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech took some flak from Democrats by supporting Nick Asselta and Phil Haines, and for staying out of the Whelan/McCullough race. Will Democrats punish him, or leave him alone?