Erin Kleintop (C) and Amy Vagnoni are photographed near the Jefferson Memorial in the rain after their wedding in Washington, DC, on September 9, 2011. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg | License Photo

WASHINGTON, May 23 (UPI) -- Opposition to same-sex marriage fell to a record low after President Obama's announced support, a Washington Post-ABC News poll released Wednesday indicated.

Overall, 53 percent of Americans said they believe same-sex marriage should be legal, a big turnaround from six years ago, when 36 percent said they thought gay marriages should be legal, the Post said.


Thirty-nine percent, a new low, say gay marriage should be illegal, results indicated.

The poll was conducted two weeks after Obama endorsed same-sex marriage. Gay rights groups said Obama's announcement would have an impact on public opinion, in part because Obama said gay friends and his daughters were influences in reaching his decision.

"By speaking in very personal terms about his own journey, the president has helped to build a larger and stronger majority in support of full equality for committed gay and lesbian couples," Fred Sainz, spokesman for Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights group supporting Obama's re-election, told the Post.

Americans were about evenly divided -- 49 percent to 46 percent -- on whether same-sex marriage laws should be made at the state or federal level, results indicated.

Results are based on nationwide telephone interviews of 1,004 adults conducted Thursday through Sunday. The margin of error is 3.5 percentage points.