Will Obama support gay marriage by the time the election comes?

[retromike22]

I think he will, mainly to avoid a conflict with the Democratic 2012 platform.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/15/barack-obama-gay-rights-dnc-democratic-platform_n_1346454.html

Excerpts:

In the past month, almost half of all Democratic senators, several of Obama's national campaign co-chairs, the House Minority Leader and the chairman of the Democratic convention, among others, have said they support adding marriage equality to the platform. Were this the position that the president held, such proclamations would not be a problem. But Obama says he is still publicly “evolving” on marriage equality. And the wave of support to make it a component of his convention has both surprised aides and set off a private push to keep emotions and expectations in check.

Behind the scenes, however, there are concerns that expectations surrounding the platform’s language are moving beyond electoral feasibility. Those concerns peaked when Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D), who is the chair of the convention, responded affirmatively when asked whether he thought the platform “should have a marriage equality plank." “I do,” he replied. “I think it’s basic to who we are. ... I don't think the government should be in that business of denying people the fundamental right to marry.

Leading the effort to beef up the platform language on marriage equality is Freedom to Marry, a pro-LGBT rights group that launched a "Democrats: Say I Do" campaign on Feb. 13. The group has proposed platform language that explicitly says the Democratic Party endorses the "freedom to marry” and has been working behind the scenes to solicit support among Democratic officials.

But while the climate seems ripe for the party to make a big statement at the convention, others have urged caution. Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) exemplifies the uncertainty. Despite having recently signed a law legalizing marriage equality in his state, he said he had concerns that promoting it nationally would distract from an economy-centric message.

“I don't know,” O’Malley replied, when asked if equality should be on the platform. “I think the most important thing that we need to do at the convention is stay focused on jobs, focused on the economy, focused on opportunity and making the right decisions now.”


"I think he's on his own timeline, as are millions of other Americans, and I don't think his own thinking depends on where the platform is or ends up, and vice versa," she said.

“I find it impossible to believe that this presidential election will be completed without Barack Obama coming out strongly for marriage equality and Mitt Romney coming out strongly against it,” said Hilary Rosen, a longtime party strategist who is deeply involved in LGBT causes. “I think it would be hard for him to not take a position."