PROVIDENCE — The majority of Rhode Islanders support the idea of same-sex marriage in the Ocean State, with 60 percent in favor of gay nuptials and 31 percent opposed, according to a new Brown University poll.

An even larger percentage –– three quarters of respondents — said they would favor same-sex civil unions.

The survey results may further intensify a political debate that has heated up in Rhode Island following the legalization of same-sex marriage in four New England states.

Until now, the only other local opinion poll on the subject was commissioned by Marriage Equality Rhode Island, a pro gay-marriage group, which led some to question its objectivity. That survey showed 49 percent favoring same-sex unions.

The Brown poll, conducted by the Taubman Center for Public Policy, surveyed 593 registered Rhode Island voters between May 18 and May 20. On the question of gay marriage, the results fell largely on partisan lines, with Democrats generally supporting the legal change and Republicans mostly opposing it.

More striking were the generational differences. Only 32 percent of voters over the age of 70 said they support same-sex marriage, but among 18-to-29-year-olds, 87 percent voiced support, as did 70 percent of the 30-to-39-year-olds.

“It’s no surprise,” said Kathy J. Kushnir, executive director of Marriage Equality. “This is exactly who Rhode Islanders are. They support equality and [want] everyone [to have] the same rights and recognition that they have for themselves.

“What this poll helps do is make people more aware that the majority of people support fairness and equality,” said Rep. Frank Ferri, D-Warwick, a married gay man and one of the most ardent supporters of the legislation at the State House.

Christopher Plante, director of the Rhode Island chapter of the National Organization for Marriage, which opposes same-sex unions, had a different impression.

“While we respect the Brown University poll, we do not believe it. In California, polls showed voters supported same-sex marriage, but it did not turn out that way,” Plante said, referring to the ballot initiative when voters defeated the measure last fall.

“It is unfortunate that so many of Rhode Island’s young people have bought into the fallacy that the same-sex marriage debate is about fairness, equality, or justice,” he added.

Among the legislature’s strongest gay-marriage critics, Rep. Jon Brien said the poll reinforces the need to put the question before the Rhode Island voters, a proposal he has sponsored this session to the chagrin of same-sex marriage supporters.

Legislative leaders as well as Governor Carcieri all oppose gay marriage.

The same Taubman Center poll also showed that President Obama continues to garner substantial support in Rhode Island, with 74 percent of respondents approving of his performance since taking office. A full 36 percent believe the president has done an “excellent” job, while 68 percent said they support the way he has handled the economy.

But Rhode Island’s jittery view of the economy has not changed much. Fifty-two percent of respondents rated the nation’s economic performance as poor. Even more — 75 percent — said Rhode Island’s economy is doing poorly.

There was brighter news, too. Only 65 percent of respondents feel the state is moving in the wrong direction, compared with the more than 80.4 percent who felt that way when the question was last posed in a February poll by the Taubman Center.

The state’s politicians drew mixed marks. Governor Carcieri received a 36-percent approval rating, up slightly from the last time the public was surveyed. But Carcieri’s negatives were nearly as high with 32 percent of respondents saying he’s done a “poor” job.

A quick look at other elected officials, including those who may be vying to replace the term-limited governor in 2010, shows the following approval ratings:

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed: 63 percent; U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse: 43 percent; U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy: 42 percent; U.S. Rep. James Langevin: 49 percent; General Treasurer Frank Caprio Jr.: 41 percent; Providence Mayor David Cicilline: 45 percent; Attorney General Patrick Lynch: 47 percent; Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis: 25 percent; Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts: 22 percent; House Speaker William Murphy: 15 percent; Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed: 21 percent.

The full text of the poll, including questions and responses, is available on the Brown University Web site at http://news.brown.edu/pressreleases/2009/05/survey More poll findings

President Obama’s job performance

Excellent or good: 74 percent

Fair or poor: 23 percent

Don’t know or no answer: 3 percent

Governor Carcieri’s job performance

Excellent or good: 36 percent

Fair or poor: 59 percent

Don’t know: 5 percent

Describe Rhode Island’s economy

Excellent or good: 2 percent

Not so good: 23 percent

Poor: 75 percent

Source: Brown University’s Taubman

Center for Public Policy

cneedham@projo.com