$41.2 Million Spent On Initiative To Ban CA. Same-Sex Marriage
Published: October 08, 2008
An estimated $41.2 million dollars has been given to the race by both supporters and opponents of a ballot initiative that would outlaw same-sex marriage in California.
These campaign finance figures show that supporters of the gay marriage ban have a significant lead in fundraising, although Proposition 8 has lagged as of late in public opinion polls. ProtectMarriage.com, a backer of the proposition, has taken in $25.4 million through Sept. 30 of this year compared to the $15.8 million in donations raised by the main committee opposing the measure.
Fran Schubert, co-manager of the gay marriage ban campaign, said the figures show "tremendous grassroots support" for what organizers are trying to accomplish. According to Schubert, more than 60,000 people have given money to help pass the initiative, which would amend the state constitution to limit marriage to a man and a woman.
Steve Smith, manager of Equality for All, a coalition of groups working to defeat the gay marriage ban, believes the contributions for both sides will even up on Election Day. "What's happening is a little seesaw battle," he said.
Both sides have set more than $10 million aside for television advertisements, which are scheduled to air this week. Proposition 8's supporters seem to have the advantage with the amount of remaining cash on hand - $12.8 million - in contrast to the $1.8 million for its opponents.
According to the National Organization on Money in State Politics, a little less than $33 million was spent on campaigns to pass or defeat gay marriage bans in the 24 states where they appeared on ballots in 2004, 2005 and 2006. This year, the total number spent is more than the previous four years combined.
The most expensive gay marriage fight before now was in Colorado, where in 2006, opponents and supporters spent $6.8 million.
Rachel Weiss, a spokeswomen for the National Organization on Money in State Politics, said there is plenty enough money around for this issue. "California is in its own universe."
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$41.2 Million Spent On Initiative To Ban CA. Same-Sex Marriage
Published: October 08, 2008
More than 60,000 people have given money to help pass initiative on Nov. 4
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