While public support for the ballot initiative was initially strong, recent polls indicate it is eroding. A statewide poll in March found that 47 percent of 600 likely voters opposed the MCRI initiative, 44 percent favored it and 9 percent were undecided. Because the poll’s margin of sampling error was plus or minus 4 percentage points, the 3-point difference could mean that public opinion is about even.
Even so, the numbers represent a big setback for the proposal, which drew 64 percent support in a similar survey nearly two years ago, according to Ed Sarpolus of EPIC/MRA, the company that performed both surveys. Last December, 53 percent were in favor and 32 percent were opposed.
Pro-affirmative action campaigners say that many people mistakenly supported the initiative because they were misled by MCRI’s name.
— Associated Press and Staff Reports
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