Maine voters repealed the May 6 law signed by Democratic Governor John Baldacci, 53 percent to 47 percent, according to the Associated Press. Polls had shown the effort to overturn the law was trailing, and fundraising by the group heading the effort, Stand For Marriage Maine, lagged behind that of gay- marriage supporters.

"There's been a shift in the social acceptance of gay marriage, but obviously, based on this result, there's not a majority there," said Patrick Murphy, president of Pan Atlantic SMS Group, a polling company in Portland. A survey on Oct. 26 found 53 percent of 400 likely voters would vote no, which would uphold the law, while 42 percent would vote yes to repeal it.

Gay marriage is legal in Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut, according to AP.

Bans on gay marriage have been approved in 30 states. In Washington, a measure to affirm a state law granting domestic partner benefits to same sex couples was ahead, 51 percent to 49 percent, with half of precincts counted, AP said.

Stand For Marriage Maine last month reported raising US$2.6 million for the campaign, with the National Organization for Marriage contributing US$1.6 million and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland US$550,000, according to the state's election practices commission.

Baldacci, a Democrat and former congressman elected to his second term last year, campaigned against the repeal, uniting with Protect Maine Equality, which raised at least US$4 million to defeat the measure.