MERI PAC Endorses Equality Statewide Candidates in the November 2nd General Election

Equality candidates reflect the will of 59 percent of Rhode Island voters supporting civil marriage rights for ALL

Providence.  Marriage Equality Rhode Island PAC (MERI PAC) is pleased to announce the endorsements of equality candidates running for statewide office in the Nov. 2, 2010 general election.

The endorsed candidates are:

GOVERNOR: Kenneth Block, Moderate; Frank Caprio, Democrat; Lincoln Chafee, Independent; Todd Giroux, Independent

LT GOVERNOR:  Elizabeth Roberts, Democrat

ATTORNEY GENERAL: Christopher Little, Moderate; Robert Rainville, Independent

GENERAL TREASURER:  Gina Raimondo, Democrat

SECRETARY OF STATE: no information

These fair-minded candidates are bolstered by the majority support of voters statewide, as reflected in a recent poll.

“Rhode Islanders are very fortunate to have a number of equality candidates running for statewide office in the November general election,” said Patrick Smock, chair of MERI PAC.  “They know that statewide office holders will bring fairness and respect to all families.”

The poll, conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research from July 7 to12, surveyed 502 likely voters in Rhode Island and showed that 59 percent support allowing same-sex couples to legally marry in the state. The margin of error is +/- 4.4 percent.

Among the poll’s major findings:

• The new pro-equality majority is demographically diverse. It includes Catholics (57 percent), women over 50 (56 percent), independent voters (58 percent) and parents (64 percent).

• Support increases further with First Amendment reassurance. When told that marriage equality would not infringe on a church’s right to marry whom they choose, support increases to 66 percent overall and 63 percent among Catholics.

• Politically, this is a net positive vote for state lawmakers. When asked about how a vote for equality would impact their support for a candidate, 27 percent say they would be more inclined to support a candidate, 24 percent are less inclined, and nearly half (46 percent) say it would make no difference. Just 13 percent are much less likely to support a pro-equality candidate.

• In Rhode Island, the LGBT community is the mainstream. Overall, 79 percent of voters here know a gay or lesbian person and 45 percent describe their feeling toward gay and lesbian people as favorable, while just 18 percent are critical. Seventy-five percent believe “homosexuality is a way of life that should be accepted by society.”

For regular updates on political endorsements, visit MERI PAC’s webpage at www.facebook.com/meri.pac. To get involved with candidates that support marriage equality, e-mail meripac2010@gmail.com

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Per Rhode Island law, individuals anywhere and PACs registered in Rhode Island may contribute a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year. Business and corporate checks are prohibited. Contributions are not tax-deductible. 8/10