Oct 31, 2008  |  By: CHRIS JOHNSON  | COMMENTS     

The campaigns for and against a ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriage in California were clamoring this week to win the support of a small group of undecided voters that could decide the measure’s fate on Election Day.

To reach undecided voters through television ads, the “No on 8” campaign called for continued donations to help keep up with funding for the “Yes on 8” campaign.

While “No on 8” last month began appealing to opponents of the ban for more donations to keep up with funding raised by the other side, the “No on 8” campaign has now apparently taken the lead in raising money.

As of Monday, those working against the ban had raised a few million dollars more than their rivals, according to numbers from the Los Angeles Times. The “No on 8” campaign had received about $32.7 million, while the “Yes on 8” campaign had about $28.2 million.

About $10 million of the “Yes on 8” funding has come from the Mormon Church, according to the “No on 8” campaign.

During a conference call Oct. 24, Neil Giuliano, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, said “every penny will be spent” in donations to the “No on 8” campaign.

“We need people to contribute — there’s media that still needs to be bought for important markets within California,” he said. “This election is going to be won or lost on Election Day and that means having the resources to do everything you need to do in that last 24 to 36 hours before the election.”

Matt Cole, director of the gay rights project for the American Civil Liberties Union, said on the call that “the polls are all over place” for the amendment, known as Proposition 8.

While about 40 percent of California residents were solidly against the amendment and another 40 percent were solidly favoring it, remaining voters respond differently to the issue at different moments.

“This is a fight for people who are probably not going to get finally committed one way or another,” he said. “It is really very much going to depend on how they see the issue when they go to vote.”

Recent public polls on Proposition 8 have yielded varying results. A survey published Oct. 22 by the Public Policy Institute of California found that the amendment is losing among likely voters, with 52 percent opposing the measure and 44 percent supporting it.

But an Oct. 17 poll by SurveyUSA found Proposition 8 leading among California residents, 48-45. The poll’s authors noted that the measure’s three-point lead was within the margin of error and the findings should be interpreted as a statistical tie.

Cole said “No on 8” was trying to win over undecided voters with TV ads refuting accusations that the failure of Proposition 8 would mean same-sex marriage would have to be taught in public schools.

Additionally, “No on 8” was telling California voters that no matter their position on same-sex marriage, no one should have their rights taken away or suffer discrimination, Cole said.

A secondary goal for the “No on 8” campaign was to push California residents who oppose the
amendment to their polling places and vote correctly.

As experts and polls predicted that Democratic nominee Barack Obama would win the presidential election in a potential landslide, opponents of Proposition 8 were fearful that California voters would learn about the victory delivered by East Coast voters and decide to stay at home.

“I think we’re all afraid at this point that there’s some risk that by 7 p.m. in California, the national election results may look pretty clear,” Cole said. “A lot of people traditionally vote in California in that last hour, and we need to make sure that people vote regardless of the way the national [election] is going.”

“No on 8” also was focused on reminding same-sex marriage supporters to vote not just on the presidential race, but to “vote down the ballot” and reject Proposition 8. Further, the campaign was reminding people to vote “no” on the measure, even though they support same-sex marriage.

“One of the scariest things we’ve seen through the field operation is the really frightful number of people who … say, ‘Right! I’m with you! I’m going to go in there and vote “yes” on gay marriage!’” Cole said. “And we say ‘No, no, no — if you want gay marriage, you have to vote ‘no,’ not ‘yes.’”

“No on 8” also sent about 750,000 mailers to California residents, urging them to vote against Proposition 8 and was planning to follow up with personal calls ...