Poll: 49% of Likely Voters Oppose Prop. 8

A poll released on Thursday shows that 49% of likely California voters oppose Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that would constitutionally ban same-sex marriage. The Field Poll also showed that 44% of likely voters were in favor of the measure, while seven percent remained undecided. The results indicate a narrowing of opinion since the last Field Poll in mid September, when 55% of respondents opposed Prop. 8 and 38% supported it.

"It's certainly closer than it was before the advertising campaign hit," Field Poll director Mark DiCamillo told the Sacramento Bee. "A lot of that has to do with the campaigning on the yes [on 8] side."

The No on 8 campaign, however, saw reason for optimism. In a statement, No on 8's senior campaign adviser Steve Smith said the poll shows that the opposition's "deceptive campaign has failed to move their numbers much at all," noting that in this survey and others, support for Prop. 8 has remained below 50%.

According to the poll, 22% of respondents have already voted. Among that group, the yes side was ahead by six points.