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Overlooked Key to Obama Victory: Gay Voters

They favored the president 3 to 1, says NYT

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 15, 2012 4:33 PM CST

(Newser) – The role of gay voters in President Obama's re-election hasn't gotten much attention, but a New York Times story makes the case that it was a "decisive" factor. Exit polls showed that 5% of voters identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, and Obama had their overwhelming support by a 3-to-1 margin, according to a UCLA study. Considering that Mitt Romney held his own among straight voters nationally and even edged the president in Ohio, the gay vote could indeed have been crucial. The story also explores the resulting dilemma for Republicans—how to woo this growing segment of voters without alienating cultural conservatives. Read it in full here.

Revelers kiss as they celebrate early election returns on a referendum in Washington state to legalize gay marriage.
Revelers kiss as they celebrate early election returns on a referendum in Washington state to legalize gay marriage.   (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Ashley Gorczyga of Portland attends a rally in support for gay marriage in Portland, Maine, on Nov. 1.
Ashley Gorczyga of Portland attends a rally in support for gay marriage in Portland, Maine, on Nov. 1.   (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 83 comments
Tology
Nov 16, 2012 3:50 AM CST
Note to the GOP, white, straight, wealthy voters do not make up the majority in this country anymore.
Lucky1
Nov 16, 2012 3:28 AM CST
It is the nature of time to continually move towards progressive ideals. There is a reason they call conservatism conservative. It looks to the past, not the future and thus within conservatism are sown the seeds of its own downfall.
Lucky1
Nov 16, 2012 3:25 AM CST
There is no way you racists T'Baggers forgot the gay vote???  Oh, I forgot, you are dying out and are on the wrong side of history, as you have always been.
 

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