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Former Clinton pollster Doug Schoen says that President Obama may have alienated swing voters in key battle ground states with his thoughts on gay mar...
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Oh but how will -- affect his his chances on Election Day joining me now former Clinton pollster Doug shown and what do you make of this -- Tom I think we need to look at it on two levels.
-- an elite level this is gonna help on undeniably with donors particularly gay donors are thank.
One in six of his -- anglers are.
Day.
I think it'll help with the media the liberal media is pro.
Gay rights and I think this will make for a more hospitable reception.
However it's a different -- I think at the state level you have I think 3032 states that a bans on gay marriage.
And in addition I think seven of the battleground states.
Have have those -- and have cleared demonstrations of public opinion.
From recent.
Surveys that show clear majorities against gay marriage swing voters Tom.
More likely to be against -- That's a question because the the left is going to that was going to -- form anyway is pleased with us and that doesn't change their position on and the right is -- So that doesn't change -- that swing voters you keep telling us that this is.
Where.
Presidents get elected evidence presidents get elected with swing voters there are a couple of issues out there that I think they're gonna hurt him.
First and foremost the economy of course.
But if you take health care.
Which has been a negative with swing voters and you had in gay marriage which is I think a negative with swing voters I think you have.
To potent issues that are likely to be added to the mix again this here.
That will hurt rather than help the president.
Lot of if if you don't -- -- on the economy which I don't blame them.
Then you need some other distractions out there.
A lot of people might be taken this is a distraction but I'm also thinking this is more than just some sidebar is -- this is really an important issue.
A lot of people -- to a lot of people are cultural issue like.
Gay marriage what marriage is about as -- between a man and a woman or is it a more expansive definition.
Gets to core values and while many of us don't see the issue in those terms for a lot of voters in the heartland of America.
This is a core issue and it defines how to think about people.
There was co writer of will and grace -- told CBS news this past week.
That he was at a private function in Beverly Hills and the vice president was there.
Three weeks ago and specifically went through exactly what he told Meet the Press he came to the conclusion that this was all.
Orchestrated.
Well when the White House indicated a few weeks ago that the president's position was evolve.
What they were telegraphing.
Was that the president was gonna find the right moment for him to come out -- in -- they're.
-- but they're blaming Joseph Biden and I'm and I'm thinking.
Joseph Biden sounds like he was the the go -- and see if it's poll friendly say something.
-- I think that's right -- -- I blame George Clooney I think the president decided.
He didn't want to go to a twelve million dollar fund raiser this week and Hollywood and be on the wrong side of an issue Hollywood cares deeply about.
So.
It is that did those battleground states this is important because it seems like when you put the vote to the people -- The ban on gay marriage passes when you put it to the legislature or to the courts it fails -- the -- rule in favor of gay marriage and -- the legislature's.
So of the state that have approved gay marriage.
So it really does come down to the people so far right or wrong -- for your position is on this the people we're still going I'm not so sure.
Well the people who matter are decidedly -- -- if not.
Skewed against but bottom line Tom if they calculate in the White House that they can get.
Tens of millions of dollars more may be hundreds of millions of dollars more from donors who are sympathetic to gay marriage.
That's a tradeoff that the president is going to make.
Investors -- a lot of people say are right -- the but the edited by gay marriage has changed in the involved over the last one a year to Gallup poll showed now that it's.
Pretty close about fifty -- -- and you take out that the error for rounding.
But but between now and I don't care about evolving -- right now the president cares about between now in six months from now right.
-- it is absolutely right Tom.
That the country is evenly divided there's been about twenty points of movement since 1996.
-- on the issue.
But this is an election -- can be decided in fifteen states.
And in a solid majority of those states gay marriage is not popular and not supported by swing voters fascinating Doug Jones.
Thank you -- thank -- technical part of yet.
You get elected in this country.
