US | gay marriage Gay-Marriage Support Snowballing Public now probably split about 50-50 By Kevin Spak Posted Aug 12, 2010 11:42 AM CDT Copied In this Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010 file photo, hundreds of same-sex marriage supporters march through San Francisco celebrating a federal judge's decision overturning California's same-sex marriage ban. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File) Public support for gay marriage seems to be rapidly increasing based on an analysis of polling data dating back to 1988, according to FiveThirtyEight polling guru Nate Silver. According to a regression analysis, about 49% of the country probably now favors gay marriage, while 50% are opposed, which is “basically too close to call.” It also represents an immensely speedy move over the past 16 months. The analysis is influenced by a new CNN poll, in which 52% of respondents said that gay and lesbian couples should have a constitutional right to marry, to 46% opposed. Among people under 50, support was close to 60%. The same was true among Democrats and Independents. Silver notes that the numbers have been moving more since gay rights groups shifted to demanding marriage equality, rather than civil unions, “probably because the secular justifications against it are generally quite weak.” Read These Next Hall of Famer Dave Parker dies That 'buy now, pay later' loan may soon hit your credit score. Mark Zuckerberg's 'list' has Silicon Valley buzzing. Cops: Arizona 5th graders drew up plot to 'end' a classmate. Report an error