Turning Up The Pressure

The NY Daily News is reporting that the Empire State Pride Agenda is using polls conducted in the home districts of ten Republican state senators to convince them to flip their votes on marriage equality.

Over the past several months, the group commissioned polls from Boston-based Kiley & Co. in the districts of at least 10 GOP state senators. The group plans to use the results to convince reluctant state lawmakers that voting "yes" on gay marriage is not political suicide. The polling from four Long Island districts obtained by the Daily News shows voters support granting the right to marry to same-sex couples, 52-42%. Support is strongest among women, voters younger than 30 and independents - a key constituency that can make or break tight races. Long Island is expected to again be a battleground in the 2010 fight for control of the state Senate, in which Republicans will try to regain the majority and Democrats hope to grow their slim, two-seat grip on the chamber. The four Republican Long Island senators targeted in the agenda's polls were: Ken LaValle, Kemp Hannon, Charles Fuschillo and John Flanagan. Six Democratic senators have said they won't vote for the gay marriage bill, so advocates are looking to the Republicans to make up the difference.

In addition to the poll campaign, a consulting firm that does a lot of business with Mayor Bloomberg is working pro bono to create a pro-marriage equality television ad for the Pride Agenda.

RELATED: Openly gay Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell's marriage equality bill was to have been voted on in the Assembly this week, but that has been delayed due to squabbling over the MTA budget and the funeral of state Sen. John Marchi (R-Staten Island).