Politics
Election 2012: Obama numbers not hurt by gay marriage embrace
The president’s announcement earlier this month ended his lengthy self-described “evolution” on the hot-button social issue. While the White House insisted Obama always planned to make his views on gay marriage known this summer, some aides worried that doing so could hurt him politically with socially conservative voters in swing states, like Virginia and North Carolina.
Other Obama aides see the president’s support for same-sex marriage as an opportunity to boost enthusiasm and fundraising among gay supporters and young people. With that in mind, the Obama campaign has sought to turn the president’s embrace of gay marriage into an area of contrast with Romney, highlighting the former Massachusetts governor’s support for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex unions.
“Romney’s position on same-sex marriage is also historic but not in the way it should be,” said Joe Solmonese, a co-chair of Obama’s campaign. “He has pledged to write discrimination into the constitution.”
The Obama campaign also announced a new effort Wednesday to boost voter registration and turnout in the gay and lesbian community through phone banks, house parties and other grassroots outreach efforts.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
