A new poll shows that we have the momentum in Maryland as well, due in part to the debut of our ads and also to the robust activism of the African-American churches!

NOM was recently able to give an additional $400,000 to help keep the ads on the air through election day.

The Baltimore Sun reports:

"A month ago, the same-sex marriage question was ahead by 10 percentage points — 49 percent to 39 percent — in an earlier Sun poll. The contest is now a dead heat in part because some African-Americans who supported the measure or were undecided are now saying no.

The numbers have moved amid television and radio commercials from the Maryland Marriage Alliance, which opposes same-sex marriage, and stepped-up efforts by pastors preaching against Question 6.

Much of the advertising is focused on African-American voters, a bloc that traditionally opposed same-sex marriage but had been warming to the idea. In late September, the Sun poll showed a majority of blacks in favor of Question 6 — evidently a high-water mark.

This time, the poll found 50 percent of black voters oppose the measure and 42 percent support it.

Yvonne Johnson, 65, of Prince George's County is among those who have decided to vote against legalization of same-sex marriage. "I'm not against gay people, she said. "I just don't think they should change what is in the Bible."

Growing opposition to the measure is not surprising, based on the experience in other states. Same-sex marriage measures have been defeated in all 32 states in which they have been on the ballot. In addition to Maryland, Maine and Washington state will also vote on legalization this fall. Minnesota has a ballot measure that would constitutionally ban same-sex marriage.

In Maryland as in other states, opponents of same-sex marriage have raised less money than supporters. Opponents say they are accustomed to being outspent during these campaigns and thus typically unleash their advertising push in the final weeks.

The new Sun poll found that 70 percent of the respondents who attend a religious service once a week are against Question 6.

"I'm a Catholic," said Laura Long, a 46-year-old Annapolitan who says she will vote no. "There are going to be some things not everybody can do," she said, saying marriage is one of them. "Leave it as religious sacrament."

This poll falls in line with the trend we are seeing in other polls as voting day approaches.