Early primary-state voters: Opposing gay marriage ‘unacceptable’ for a candidate

The American electorate in three early-primary states is more receptive to candidates who support gay marriage and immigration reform, and agree that climate change requires action, according to new NBC/Marist polls released this weekend.

Those issues divide both conservatives whose votes Republicans will attempt to garner in a primary and the younger, more diverse pool of voters they will hope to attract in a general election. Younger Latinos in particular place specific emphasis on climate change as a key issue, and more young people support gay marriage and immigration reform.

Majorities in each of those three states — Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina — said it would be acceptable to vote for a candidate who supports gay marriage, who “believes climate change is man-made and action should be taken to combat it,” and who supports immigration reform, including a path to citizenship.

In all three states, voters most strongly say that candidates who oppose gay marriage are “unacceptable.”

These issues also help define the fine line that Republicans will try to walk in 2016. Some of the voters GOP candidates will be trying to win over in their primary will be on the opposite side of those issues come the general election, when at least two of those three early states — Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina — will be swing states.

Here’s a state-by-state breakdown of whether voters find candidates “acceptable” or “unacceptable” on the positions.

IOWA:

• Believes climate-change is man-made and action should be taken to combat it: 58 percent acceptable, 39 percent unacceptable
• Opposes gay marriage: 38 percent acceptable, 58 percent unacceptable
• Supports immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants: 57 percent acceptable, 40 percent unacceptable

SOUTH CAROLINA:

• Believes climate-change is man-made and action should be taken to combat it: 52 percent acceptable, 44 percent unacceptable
• Opposes gay marriage: 39 percent acceptable, 58 percent unacceptable
• Supports immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants: 54 percent acceptable, 43 percent unacceptable

NEW HAMPSHIRE:

• Believes climate-change is man-made and action should be taken to combat it: 64 percent acceptable, 32 percent unacceptable
• Opposes gay marriage: 30 percent acceptable, 66 percent unacceptable
• Supports immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants: 55 percent acceptable, 42 percent unacceptable

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leads the Democratic field in all three states, garnering at least 65 percent of the Democratic vote in each.

The Republican side is murkier: Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee leads in Iowa, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in New Hampshire, and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham in South Carolina. Only Bush and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker garner double-digit support in all three states, according to the poll.

Brett LoGiurato is the senior national political correspondent at Fusion, where he covers all things 2016. He’ll give you everything you need to know about politics, with a healthy side of puns.