PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A majority of Rhode Island voters -- 60.4 percent -- favors same-sex marriage with those who support gay marriage calling it an equal rights issue, according to a Brown University public opinion survey released Thursday.
The survey, conducted by the A. Alfred Taubman Center for Public Policy and American Institutions and the John Hazen White Public Opinion Laboratory at Brown University, polled a random sample of 593 registered Rhode Island voters on Feb. 21-23.
The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percent.
An overwhelming majority -- 99.2 percent of respondents -- were pessimistic about the state's economy and most expressed little confidence in state officials making the right decisions for the state.
Providence Mayor Angel Taveras, a potential candidate for governor, leads the pack of elected officials with an approval rating of 63.7 percent. Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed garnered the lowest approval rating with 20.9 percent to House Speaker Gordon Fox's 23.3 percent. Governor Chafee's rating stood at 25.5 percent.