Two very different messages about a November ballot measure to write Utah's ban on same-sex marriages into the state constitution soon will be broadcast on TV screens across the state.

Both ads focus on the amendment's second sentence, which would prevent any domestic union other than a marriage from being given "the same or substantially equivalent legal effect."

Ads previewed Wednesday in a fund-raiser by the Don't Amend Alliance make an emotional appeal to voters, saying the amendment goes too far by denying hospital visitation or health insurance to unmarried couples. Those ads will appear in the last two weeks before Nov. 2.

Utahns for a Better Tomorrow's ads, which first aired on at least one station Wednesday, counter Don't Amend's arguments, describing the amendment as a "simple" one designed to protect traditional marriage.

The ads were launched at a time when polls indicate amendment supporters have a healthy advantage. The latest Deseret Morning News/KSL-TV poll shows 64 percent of voters support the amendment, virtually unchanged from a poll in September.

While 71 percent of voters strongly supported the amendment's first sentence, only 42 percent supported the second sentence.

Don't Amend has been working to raise doubts about the amendment's second sentence and has garnered support from some noted individuals, including GOP Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and his two challengers for re-election.

Kelly Patterson, director of the Center for Studies of Election and Democracy at Brigham Young University, said it makes sense that amendment opponents are attempting to veer away from supporters' focus on traditional marriage.

"If (opponents) are going to have some sort of advantage, some sort of opportunity, that's where it is," Patterson said. "Can Don't Amend stay on message, does it have the resources to get the message out? We haven't yet seen the full-blown campaign." To date, Don't Amend has reserved at least $175,600 in air time — as reported by Bonneville radio stations KSL-TV, KTVX ABC 4 and KUTV 2 — starting Oct. 18 and running through the election.

Utahns for a Better Tomorrow has spent at least $9,150 on ads, which started Wednesday and run through Friday on KTVX. KSTU Fox 13 did not return a Deseret Morning News phone call.

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com