Great news! In addition to GOP presidential hopefuls Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush (and maybe Scott Walker, Bobby Jindal or Ted Cruz, but definitely not Rick Santorum), a majority of Republicans say they would attend a loved one's same-sex wedding, if -- hypothetically, of course -- they were invited.
A Reuters poll released on Wednesday finds that most GOP supporters around the country would accept an invitation to a friend or family member's gay wedding, despite the conservative base's hardline opposition to marriage equality. The results indicate that while conservative credentials (including an anti-same-sex marriage stance) might be necessary for Republican candidates during the primaries, a more moderate stance on the issue might be necessary in the general election.
The poll showed 56 percent of Republicans would attend the gay wedding of a loved one if invited. That compares with 80 percent of Democrats and 70 percent of independents, who said they would go.
Overall, 68 percent of Americans would attend, the poll showed, while 19 percent would not and 13 percent were unsure.
The poll's results suggests Republicans who stake out strong opposition to gay marriage could be on shaky political ground if their ultimate goal is to win the White House.
Though a right-leaning, anti-marriage position may appeal to important conservative voters in states with early nominating contests such as Iowa and New Hampshire, that stand could hurt an eventual nominee in the general election, in which cross-party appeal and independents play a larger role.
The poll is timely, as the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Tuesday in Obergefell v. Hodges, an amalgamation of four cases that could determine the fate of marriage equality across the country as early as June.
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