DEM SENATORS SWEAT GAY MARRIAGE STANCE – AT 10:37 A.M. ET:  A number of Democratic senators up for re-election are backing away from Obama's gay marriage stance, which is controversial in their states.  The Hill reports:

Senate Democrats facing difficult reelections are breaking with President Obama’s endorsement of same-sex marriage, a sign the issue is politically dangerous in battleground states.

Sens. Jon Tester (Mont.) and Claire McCaskill (Mo.), the two most vulnerable Democratic senators, have declined to endorse Obama’s call for the legalization of gay marriage.

Sens. Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Bob Casey (Pa.) and Bill Nelson (Fla.), Democrats who have easier races but in states that could become more competitive by November, have also backed away from Obama’s stance.
They all represent states with constitutional amendments or laws banning same-sex marriage.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) predicted Thursday the Democratic Party would adopt a pro-gay marriage plank in its platform. While that may happen when delegates to the Democratic National Convention meet September in Charlotte, N.C., the party remains divided.

“Jon believes in civil unions for committed same-sex couples but in Montana a marriage is defined as between a man and a woman,” said Andrea Helling, Tester’s spokeswoman.

COMMENT:  I think you may find some Dems backing away from Obama on a variety of issues, like Obamacare, and even some foreign-policy issues, especially if the polls predict a tight presidential election or a Romney lead.

May 13,  2012