Proposition 8

Most California voters are not supporting a proposition that would ban gay marriage, and they're also down on the state's direction as a whole, according to a new poll released by the Public Policy Institute of California.

Only 40 percent of California votes support Proposition 8, while 54 percent oppose it, according to the PPIC's new survey on ballot measures and voter sentiment, released before the Labor Day weekend -- the traditional kickoff of fall campaign season.

Arguments for and against the 12 initiatives being voted on Nov. 4 can now be seen online at the California Secretary of State's website.

The ballot measures range from bonds for high-speed rail, children's hospitals and veteran's housing to measures on caged chickens and parental notifications for abortions to hot topics such as gay marriage and redistricting.

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama: Getty Images PhotoReversing a previous position where he said the issue of gay marriage should be left up to the individual states, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama said over the weekend that he would oppose the California ballot proposition seeking a ban against same-sex nuptials.

In a letter read before the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club's Pride Breakfast in San Francisco on Sunday, Obama said he would oppose Prop. 8, the so-called Defense of Marriage Act that would amend the California Constitution to define marriage as being only between a man and a woman.