A new poll found that Virginians are split on the issue of same-sex marriages, a dramatic shift from just seven years ago, when the state easily passed an amendment to the state constitution that defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
The poll out of the University of Mary Washington’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies reports that 45 percent of Virginians support the legalization of gay marriage, and 46 percent oppose it, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. This difference sits well within the poll's 3.5 percent margin of error.
Nine percent of respondents did not answer or said they were unsure of their stance.
The breakdown of these figures follows national trends, with the younger demographics showing the highest support for same-sex marriages. Two-thirds of people between 18 and 29 are in favor of it.
IN OTHER NEWS:
* In a hypothetical 2014 Senate matchup, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner holds a commanding lead over Gov. Bob McDonnell, 51 to 35 percent. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
* Washington-area developers are currently planning more construction projects than at any time in the past four years. The surge has been mostly in residential or mixed-use developments. (Washington Examiner)
* A liberal super PAC called Cuccinelli a “roadblock for transportation” in a new attack ad. (Washington Post)
* The O’Malley administration accidently released text exchanges between the governor and his advisors to the Baltimore Sun. (Baltimore Sun)
* Metro plans to increase the number of surveillance cameras from 1,900 to nearly 6,000 by the end of 2013. (Washington Examiner)
* LivingSocial co-founder Aaron Batalion, who served as the company’s top technologist since the company’s start in 2007, stepped down from his post Friday. (Washington Business Journal)
* The Arlington County Manager halted the planned construction of "super" bus stops after a public outcry over the $1 million price tag for the first of 23 stops. (Washington Post)
*A Maryland Senate Committee began hearing testimony Friday on whether to grant control of Prince George’s County schools to County Executive Rushern Baker. (News4)
* The District-owned United Medical Center requested and received another $11 million in city funds to keep itself solvent. (Washington Post)
* Mayor Gray signed his first-ever building permit to get the construction of the Anacostia Playhouse up and running. (Washington City Paper)
