NY voters back governor on gay marriages (in a good way)

From Quinnipiac:

New York State voters support 53 - 40 percent Gov. David Paterson's order to state agencies to recognize same-sex marriages performed outside New York, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. But voters say 55 - 30 percent that this issue should have been decided by the State Legislature, not the Governor.

Democrats support the Governor's gay marriage order 64 - 30 percent, as do independent voters 56 - 37 percent, while Republicans oppose it 57 - 37 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

When New York State voters are given three choices on the gay marriage union:

* 42 percent say same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry;
* 31 percent say these couples should be allowed to form civil unions, but not marry;
* 21 percent say there should be no legal recognition of same-sex unions.

There is a significant gender split, with 48 percent of women and 34 percent of men supporting same-sex marriage. A total of 63 percent of Republicans, 80 percent of Democrats and 75 percent of independent voters support either same-sex marriage or civil unions.