After signing gay marriage into law in June, New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch is watching his approval ratings fall.
Historically, Lynch, a Democrat, has enjoyed high public approval, but for the first time since October 2005, his favorability has fallen below 70 percent. Only 63 percent of New Hampshire adults now approve of his performance.
Among Republicans, his numbers have dropped dramatically from 62 percent to only 48 percent since April.
In June, New Hampshire became the sixth state in the nation to allow same-sex marriage. Kevin Smith, executive director of Cornerstone Policy Research, said the drop in approval for Lynch can be traced directly to his stand on the issue.
"The governor assured voters time and time again that he did not support gay marriage," Smith said, "but when it reached his desk he broke his word to the voters."
A Democrat majority in the state Legislature may have given him the courage to show his true colors.
"What we're seeing here is a trend where this governor is really tied into the far left wing of his party," Smith noted. "And people are now starting to wake up to that fact, and that's why his poll numbers are dropping."
— Kim Trobee
