Why are all those Senators coming out for SSM?

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

This week several Senators announced their support for SSM. What gives?

[free my dawg]

Times are changing. It's that simple.

[Sol]

I wouldn't be surprised if some of this was staged by the Senate democrats, although It is more likely that this is simply convergence due to the SCOTUS case.

[Brittain33]

Talking Points Memo says donations are a factor.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/04/show_me_da_money_2.php?ref=fpblg

But I think it's a combination of what everyone said. The Supreme Court case made the issue timely. Then, when some started to make their statements, the circle who were silent got smaller and forced more to take a stand. It becomes a problem for Den Senators who don't care about this issue when not endorsing SSM makes you the outlier and so they all jump en masse.

[Badger]

And for Portman it was clearly a personal decision affecting his family, and for Kirk a matter of electoral survival.

[Paul Kemp]

It's pretty obvious that the flood gates opened. Not quite sure what the question is.

[Blue3]

Rob Portman and the Supreme Court, and those dozens of (retired) Republican politicians.

[Brittain33]

And for Portman it was clearly a personal decision affecting his family, and for Kirk a matter of electoral survival.

Kirk's statement had a nice and plausible personal touch about his stroke giving him new perspective.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

It seems to be a pretty organized effort by the Democratic Party to form some semblance of unity on an issue that continues to make Republicans look really, really, really bad.

[TDAS04]

Right point in history with the right overall attitude, combined with a domino effect. 

[Lambsbread]

It seems to be a pretty organized effort by the Democratic Party to form some semblance of unity on an issue that continues to make Republicans look really, really, really bad.

This seems right.

[Likely Voter]

Would the GOP look better if they organized a handful of  senators coming out for supporting SSM. People like Heller, Collins, Ayotte and maybe even Murkoski.   Or would that only highlight how their southern and western wings were solidly anti-gay?

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Would the GOP look better if they organized a handful of  senators coming out for supporting SSM. People like Heller, Collins, Ayotte and maybe even Murkoski.   Or would that only highlight how their southern and western wings were solidly anti-gay?

The GOP strategy today seems to be "try to avoid gay marriage at all costs." A few senators will come out in favor here and there to boost their own moderate credentials, but it benefits the party for everyone to just keep their dumb mouths shut.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Would the GOP look better if they organized a handful of  senators coming out for supporting SSM. People like Heller, Collins, Ayotte and maybe even Murkoski.   Or would that only highlight how their southern and western wings were solidly anti-gay?

?

[Marokai Backbeat]

Would the GOP look better if they organized a handful of  senators coming out for supporting SSM. People like Heller, Collins, Ayotte and maybe even Murkoski.   Or would that only highlight how their southern and western wings were solidly anti-gay?

The GOP strategy today seems to be "try to avoid gay marriage at all costs."

Which, of course, becomes increasingly difficult to do when nearly every Democrat now supports it.

[Torie]

By far the most important factor, for these "fraidy" cats, is, as always, P-O-L-L-S, where the trend is going to go it in but one direction, with no "R" gear in the mix. You can write that down for future reference.

Oh, those poor Pubs, where they must navigate going forward past the Scylla of getting through a closed Pub primary, with the un-epiphanied Evangelicals (and some toe the line Conservative Catholics) out for their throat, and the Charybdis of then being first past the post over the Dem in the General. Can you empathize with their pain, as their career plans seem so potentially discommoded by this so inconvenient issue being thrown on their desk, with no dust bin available in which to toss it to make it go away?

Yes, I knew you did, not.

[Ogre Mage]

It is worth noting that Guy Cecil, executive director of the DSCC, is openly gay.  He helped elect a number of these senators including Heidi Heitkamp and Joe Donnelly, the most recent "converts" on SSM.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/19/us/politics/strategist-returns-for-democrats-2014-senate-battles.html?_r=0