Impact of President marriage stance on voters | News

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- A one-time Obama supporter is now hitting the streets in Richmond, asking for voters to choose someone else in 2012.

You may have seen her here on 18th and Broad Street in Richmond, wearing a sign that said, "Don't vote for Obama. God says it's wrong."

Many of you asked us, what's her beef with Obama? Well, Rev. Shirley Snead has been out here since President Obama declared his support for gay marriage.

She said that declaration charged her mind about him. 

Church-based black voters played a major role in the 2008 election, and we wanted to know how Obama's marriage stance may be impacting 2012.  

Day after day, all day long Shirley Snead stands on the street quoting Leviticus. She's standing against President Obama and asking others to follow her lead.  

"I believe in right and I believe in wrong," said Snead. "I voted for him in 2008, I will not vote for him in 2012."

She said she can't vote for him, because he supports gay marriage.

Her actions may be extreme, but it could show a trend with religious African-Americans who strongly support the President but generally oppose gay marriage.

For instance, in North Carolina, 65% of black voters voted for the state's recent ban on gay marriage. But, in 2008 exit polls show President Obama won 95% of the black vote.

Even one of the President's strongest supporters in Richmond . Mayor Dwight Jones, a pastor himself, doesn't agree with the President's new position on marriage.

A spokesperson said he still strongly supports Obama's re-election.

Our political reporter, Ryan Nobles, said Jones is like many religious black voters who have more in common with the president than just that single issue. 

"While most of them don't agree with him on same-sex marriage, there's still a lot more that they do agree with him on," said Nobles.

And when voters go to the polls, Henrico School Board member and Obama supporter, Lamont Bagby believes gay marriage won't be their biggest concern.

 "Because I don't think anyone has an opportunity at this point to be a single issue voter," said Bagby.  

But Shirley Snead said that one issue will impact her vote.

"I'm out here is not political, it's based on right and wrong. It's based on the word of God," said Snead.

And the President got a boost from one of the largest civil rights groups in American, when the NAACP came out in support of same sex marriage.

Copyright 2012 WWBT NBC12.  All rights reserved.