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Americans trust President Barack Obama over presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney on social issues, 52 percent to 36 percent, according to a new AP-GfK poll released Friday.

The poll also found voters split on gay marriage, with 47 percent of adults favoring same-sex marriage, and 48 percent opposing it. Asked if they would support the legalization of gay marriage in their state, 40 percent say they would support it, and 42 percent say the would oppose it. Fifteen percent were unsure.

Democrats are counting on the president's edge on social issues to make up for a weak economy. The Obama campaign has emphasized Romney's opposition to abortion rights as part of a broader campaign to woo female voters.

Gay marriage is expected to be on the ballot in four states this November: Maryland and Washington State will have referendums after their legislatures passed gay marriage bills in the spring, Minnesota is looking at a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and Maine is having another referendum on the issue after voters opted to overturn a same-sex marriage law in 2009.