Prop. 8 spending found to have swayed no voters
John Wildermuth, Chronicle Staff Writer
The warring sides in the 2008 battle over same-sex marriage in California may have spent a combined $83 million for nothing, according to an academic study released Tuesday.
The study by Patrick Egan of New York University looked at polling on gay marriage and domestic partner elections in 33 states since 1998 and found that no minds were changed despite millions in spending, hard-hitting advertising such as the much-quoted "like it or not" TV spot with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, and emotional pleas from both sides.
By election day, voters who opposed same-sex marriage before the campaign still opposed it, and those who backed it continued to back it.
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...the survey did make an important point, added Maggie Gallagher, the group's chair.
"Most Americans know what they think about marriage," she said. "This study confirms that, in spite of a now almost 10-year campaign to get them to change their minds."