52% a sometimes powerful number

Proposition 8 banned same-sex marriage across California and was the single most expensive ballot initiative on a social issue in the history of the United States.

83 million dollars swirled around California's Proposition 8.  

This week new campaign finance information was released (and posted to the California Secretary of State's website). Nearly 39.9 million dollars were collected to campaign in favor of Proposition 8 and another 43.3 million dollars were raised to oppose it.

Dollars raised to fund the opposition included donations from California's Democratic State Central Committee. That group gave $150,000.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is linked to nearly $190,000 of the 39.9 million dollars raised to support the ban. The church encouraged it's members to vote in favor of Proposition 8. Funds went to mailings, salaries for campaign workers, airline tickets, hotels and meals among other expenses. The California Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating whether the church underreported its donations. Over 500 smaller organizations were also sited as major contributors to the campaign.

But it clearly takes more than deep pockets to win a campaign. The opposition raised the greater sums, about 52% of the total money involved with Proposition 8, and on election day 52% of California voters turned out to support the ban.