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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (BP)--After sounding the alarm two weeks ago, opponents of a proposed California constitutional marriage amendment have outraised supporters by a wide margin, and fundraising in the coming days could determine which side gets more ads on television between now and Nov. 4 -- and wins.
Proposition 8 opponents have raised $6.8 million since Oct. 7, when officials with the No on 8 campaign held a press call with reporters acknowledging they were trailing in polls and urging their constituents to donate. Prop 8 supporters have raised $1.2 million since that day.
For the month of October, opponents have brought in $8.3 million -- much of it from Hollywood, including a $100,000 donation from comedian Ellen DeGeneres and $50,000 from George Lucas of "Star Wars" fame -- while opponents have raised $1.5 million. Hollywood was scheduled to add even more to the coffers Oct. 21, with Melissa Etheridge and Mary J. Blige singing at a $25,000-a-plate fundraiser for No on 8 in Beverly Hills. Meanwhile, in a controversial move, the California Teachers Association also donated $1 million.
The fundraising data comes from the California secretary of state's website, which lists only donations of $1,000 or larger, as required by law.
If passed, Prop 8 would overturn the California Supreme Court's May decision that legalized "gay marriage."
"We frankly have not raised the same amount in the past two weeks that they have," Chip White, spokesperson for the Yes on 8, ProtectMarriage.com campaign, told Baptist Press. " ... If their current course continues, they will catch up and surpass us."
The gap in recent donations threatens to halt the momentum of Prop 8, which led in the two most recent public opinion polls and led in fundraising through the end of September. That better-than-expected fundraising allowed supporters of Prop 8 to flood the air with TV ads, giving them the lead in polls after trailing all summer.
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