I’ve looked in vain for public polling on how much the gay-marriage issue hurt Dede Scozzafava with GOP and independent voters.

So I commissioned a poll. The results should be ready to release by tomorrow.

Here’s the key: The press (including conservatives) tend to lump gay marriage in with other “Christian right wing/social conservative” issues, like abortion. But gay marriage is different because the majority of Americans oppose it.

The majority of independents, as well as Republicans, and also a big chunk of Democrats oppose it.

Voters don’t view opposition to gay marriage as evidence of ideological rigidity and extremism. They think it’s common sense.