Maine apportions its electoral votes by congressional district, and in Maine's 2nd district dem-leaning PPP has Romney only down by 5 points.

Republicans have sent a mailer into this area informing voters that "only one candidate supports traditional marriage: Mitt Romney."

Pundits are already pointing out the advantage Romney is gaining from pro-Amendment 1 supporters in Minnesota.

Could the wave of voters showing up to vote no on Question 1 (gay marriage) tomorrow also carry Romney to a win in Maine's 2nd district?

We don't know but it will be fascinating to find out tomorrow.

Add Washington Post George Will to the landslide column, along with Fox News Channel’s Dick Morris and the Washington Examiner’s Michael Barone.

On this weekend’s broadcast of “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” on ABC, Will revealed his prediction and added a bonus surprise by saying traditional Democratic state Minnesota would go for Romney, as well.

“I’m projecting Minnesota to go for Romney,” Will said. “It’s the only state that’s voted Democratic in nine consecutive elections, but this year, there’s the marriage amendment on the ballot that will bring out the evangelicals, and I think could make the difference.”

It’s certainly not a sure thing, but the fate of one David Wiggins could play a key role in determining, on November 6, who becomes the leader of the free world.

David Wiggins is a justice on the Iowa Supreme Court, and this fall he’s up for a retention vote. A controversial decision about gay marriage has given rise to a sizeable grassroots movement among Hawkeye social conservatives who want to push him out. Their get-out-the-vote efforts could mobilize otherwise unmotivated conservative voters and tip the balance in Iowa. It’s a state where Mitt Romney was not expected to win, but he now trails by just two points in the Real Clear Politicsaverage.

This is happening because of the Iowa Supreme Court’s controversial 2009 decision on the state’s restricting its marriage licenses to straight coouples. The seven justices on the court ruled unanimously that the statute denied same-sex couples equal protection and didn’t serve a compelling state interest. But the kicker for conservatives, according to former Iowa GOP political director Craig Robinson, came when the court also stipulated that same-sex couples had now won the right to marry. The unconstitutionality of one statute doesn’t imply that its inverse is law, Robinson notes, but that was the result of the court’s ruling. Opponents of the ruling argue that in legislating from the bench, the justices overstepped their constitutional bounds and deserve to be thrown out.

"...A Star Tribune poll released Sunday shows a dead heat, with Obama at 47 percent and Romney at 44 percent. This shocker elated state Republicans, who have been frustrated for decades. (Democrats have won Minnesota since 1972.) To capitalize on the momentum, the Romney campaign recently spent a small sum on television ads.

Democrats are nervous. For months, their electoral calculus has categorized Minnesota as reliably blue. This week, the Washington Post and ABC News reclassified it from “safely” Democrat to “lean Obama.” To stanch the bleeding, Democrats are spending more, and sending in former president Bill Clinton, who will stump near the Twin Cities.

Obama adviser Jim Messina is pushing back; he told reporters on Monday that the idea Romney could win Minnesota is “wishful thinking.” But Republicans’ rising expectations are grounded in more than poll numbers. As Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey reports, there are “two key referendums on the ballot,” and they are dominating the debate and stoking participation.

One measure would amend the state constitution to require photo identification for voting, and the other would constitutionally define marriage as between a man and a woman. Outside groups on both sides have poured in money. These referendums, more than Republican Kurt Bills’s underfunded challenge to Senator Amy Klobuchar, have Republicans enthused."

"With polls showing the presidential race to be dead even, Mitt Romney would do well to remind voters in key swing states of his position on social issues like marriage, life and religious liberty. They could tip the scale in this election.

The Karl Rove wing of the GOP and the Republican elite have succeeded in keeping social issues off the table in this general election, deeming them to be “divisive.” They’ve understandably focused their campaign on the Obama record, especially as it relates to the economy. But Obama also has a record on social issues, and that record puts him at odds with a large majority of voters in key swing states. Unfortunately, voters in those states haven’t heard much about the Obama record on marriage, life and religious liberty, and Romney himself hasn’t done much to make these issues a central part of his messaging. This is a key strategic mistake that he should remedy while he still has the chance.

Let’s look at the issue of preserving marriage as the union of one man and one woman. This issue has been on the ballot in 32 states – coast to coast, in red states and blue. It has won in all 32 states. Some of these are the very swing states that will decide the election this November. Florida passed their marriage amendment by 62 percent of the vote. North Carolina passed it with 61 percent support just this past May. Virginia passed theirs by 57 percent. And the critical state of Ohio? They passed their amendment by 62 percent of the vote. Iowa hasn’t had a chance to vote on a marriage amendment yet, but with about 55 percent of the vote they did throw three sitting Supreme Court justices off the court last election for redefining marriage there. Recent polls suggest they’re about to boot another one of the gay marriage justices..."

Since the 2008 presidential campaign, when then-Sen. Barack Obama told the Rev. Rick Warren that he supported traditional marriage defined as the union of “one man and one woman,” the president’s position on this topic has “evolved,” and now, of course, has reversed.

Indeed, Mr. Obama not only has strayed quite a distance from his original position, he has done everything he can to undermine traditional marriage. What’s more, he has sat by idly while activist judges have decided how marriage should be defined. This is bad for marriage and bad for America.

The president’s refusal to defend marriage at the federal level has been an abdication of his constitutional responsibility to execute and enforce the law. He has signaled clearly that if re-elected in November, he will continue this abuse of power to redefine marriage.

The people of Maryland, Minnesota, Washington and Maine have the opportunity to affirm core traditional American values by voting to support traditional marriage on Election Day, Nov. 6. Voters in those states can join the 31 other states that have voted “yes” to preserving marriage through a state constitutional amendment, honoring marriage between a man and a woman now and for future generations.

"Every time a state has voted on marriage over the past four years the citizens have ignored the President and voted their pro-marriage beliefs … and this November will be no different."—Brian Brown, President of NOM—

Washington, D.C.—Reacting to the news that President Obama has endorsed Referendum 74 in Washington State, Question 1 in Maine and Question 6 in Maryland, all of which would redefine marriage if approved, Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) said:

"President Obama has opposed every effort to protect marriage since he came into office, and yet every time a state has voted on marriage over the past four years citizens have ignored the President and voted their pro-marriage beliefs, including most recently in North Carolina, where a plurality of Democrats ignored the President's opposition and contributed to the 61% of voters who supported the Marriage Protection Amendment earlier this year."

"Time and time again we have seen that people's personal conviction that marriage is the union of husband and wife is too strong to be swayed by what the President says on this issue," Brown continued.

"President Obama's choice to support efforts to redefine marriage will prove to be a motivation for pro-marriage voters in these states and across the country to mobilize in the final days before the election to support marriage and support candidates at the local and national level who share their pro-marriage view. Voters in thirty-two states have voted to protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman, often by a wide margin, especially in swing states considered critical to the election of the next President. Mitt Romney has been a stalwart advocate of marriage and has signed NOM's five-point Marriage Pledge. The contrast between the two Presidential candidates on the issue of marriage could not be clearer," Brown added.

"The momentum is clearly behind our efforts to protect marriage in the four states voting on November 6th . Pro-marriage activists have always won the closing argument and this November will be no different, despite President Obama's choice to inject himself into the important decisions these four states are about to make," concluded Brown.

President Obama has previously stated his opposition to the Minnesota Protection Amendment.

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To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Jen Campbell (x145), jcampbell@crcpublicrelations.com , or Elizabeth Ray (x130), eray@crcpublicrelations.com , at 703-683-5004.

Paid for by The National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown, president. 2029 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. New § 68A.405(1)(f) & (h).

President Obama earns just over 50% of the vote in Minnesota.

A new telephone survey of Likely Minnesota Voters finds Barack Obama with 51% support to 46% for Mitt Romney.  One percent (1%) prefers some other candidate, while another one percent (1%) is undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Here, for instance, is what they found Mitt Romney's actions on marriage to be while Governor of Massachusetts:

-- November 2003: The same day that Massachusetts' highest court issued its first-in-the-nation decision that would legalize gay marriage, Romney endorses a proposed state constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man, one woman.

-- March 2004: Announces his desire to ask the court to prevent its ruling from going into effect until after citizens can vote on a state constitutional marriage amendment. Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly, though, declines to make such a request to the court. (The court had "stayed" its ruling for 180 days, meaning it did not take effect until May 2004.)

-- April 2004: Files an emergency bill with the state legislature that would give him the power to ask the state's high court to delay its ruling until after citizens can vote on a constitutional marriage amendment. (The bill fails.)

-- April 2004: Announces that because of an obscure 1913 law, out-of-state gay couples won't be able to marry when the court's ruling takes effect in May 2004. Romney's interpretation goes further than the interpretation of the attorney general, who had limited the application of the law to only the 38 states that had explicitly defined marriage in the traditional sense. Romney said couples from any state that doesn't recognize gay marriage are ineligible.

-- May 2004: Announces he will veto any bill that allows out-of-state couples to marry in Massachusetts.

-- June 2004: Appears before a U.S. Senate committee, urging passage of a federal constitutional marriage amendment defining marriage as between one man, one woman. Such an amendment would overturn the gay marriage ruling in his state.

-- November 2006: Speaks before 7,000 people at a rally in Boston supporting a state constitutional marriage amendment.

-- November 2006: Sues state legislators to try and force them to vote on a state marriage amendment. Citizens had gathered 170,000 signatures to place the amendment before the body, and the constitution requires a vote. (The court sided with Romney. The legislature subsequently passed the amendment in January 2007, although it failed to pass it again during the next session, as required. The state constitution requires the amendment to pass twice before being placed on the ballot.)

-- December 2006: Threatens to withhold a pay raise from state legislators if they fail to vote on a marriage amendment.

"[Marriage is] the foundation for society and for family for thousands of years. First of all, Mitt Romney and I — I’ll just say it, it’s worth repeating — we believe marriage is between one man and one woman, that’s number one. Number two, you know where I come from we had one of those amendments in Wisconsin, I was a big supporter of it and we passed it like you say, where it’s put on the ballot it passes. The second point is, President Obama gave up defending the Defense of Marriage Act in the courts, I mean, not only is this decision to abandon this law the wrong decision, it passed in a bipartisan manner, it is very troubling because it undermines not only traditional marriage but it contradicts our system of government. It’s not the president’s job to pick and choose which laws he likes. A Romney administration will protect traditional marriage and the rule of law and we will provide the Defense of Marriage Act the proper defense in the courts that it deserves."

Mitt Romney has cleared the 50% mark again in the battleground state of North Carolina despite the presence of the Democratic National Convention there little over a week ago.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely North Carolina Voters shows Romney with 51% support to President Obama’s 45%. One percent (1%) likes some other candidate in the race, and three percent (3%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Of Mitt Romney he says: "Not only [is he] a defender of marriage, he offers an example of marriage at its best."

A major coalition of black pastors is thanking the Republican Party for its vigorous support of traditional marriage in its party platform.

"We thank the GOP for ensuring that at least one party is willing to stand up for the common sense, biblical understanding of marriage," Rev William Owens, head of the Coalition of African-American Pastors, said.

Owens' son William said believers failed to stand up when prayer was stripped from public schools and abortion was legalized.

He said Christians must not be passive now about same-sex marriage being legalized.

"We celebrate marriage. We stand to really hurt the heart of God if we take that position. We're more accountable to God than we are to man," Owens said.

Both men said that if the Democratic Party is going to put power and resources behind gay marriage, groups like theirs must rise to defend traditional marriage.

The Republican Union Pac launched a series of grassroots campaigns aimed at convincing conservative Democrat, Catholic voters to vote Republican in the November elections this fall.  Republican Union Pac’s million dollar expenditure is tailored to appeal to disenfranchised Democrats in economically-challenged, heavily Catholic neighborhoods within mid-sized to large cities in Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Dozens of billboards have been erected in these areas by Republican Union Pac with the message “Obama Supports Gay Marriage & Abortion.  Do You?  Vote Republican.”

James J. Brazil, one of Republican Union Pac's founders who is himself a Catholic Democrat said, "Catholic Democrats crossed over to support Ronald Reagan in 1980 against Jimmy Carter and Republican Union will be successful in making a similar case for Catholics to vote Republican this November.”

...Republican Union Pac Spokesman Bo Harmon said, "Republican Union intends to follow up this initial outreach with a targeted boots on the ground effort going person to person, neighborhood to neighborhood.  This personal outreach to voters who have been abandoned by the out of touch policies of the current Democratic leadership will be what determines our success."

While the White House has yet to respond, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney commented on the shooting, saying: “I am appalled by the shooting today at the offices of the Family Research Council in our nation’s capital. There is no place for such violence in our society. My prayers go out to the wounded security guard and his family, as well as all the people at the Family Research Council whose sense of security has been shattered by today’s horrific events.”

Here is a sampling Rep. Ryan's pro-marriage votes during his years in public service:

"Voted for a resolution proposing a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as the union between one man and one woman." (source)

Voted against repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in 2011. (source)

Voted YES on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman. (Jul 2006)

Voted YES on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Sep 2004)

Voted YES on permanently eliminating the marriage penalty. (Apr 2004)

Votes YES on reducing Marriage Tax by $399B over 10 years (Mar 2001)

Voted YES on promoting work and marriage among TANF recipients. (Feb 2003)

Voted YES on eliminating the "marriage penalty". (Jul 2000) (sources)

Supported the marriage amendment in Wisconsin in 2006. (source)

Its part of an effort to encourage pro-life and pro-marriage Americans to support Republican candidates this fall.

Bloomberg reports:

"Republican Union PAC has spent $950,000 on billboards, it said in an FEC filing yesterday. The billboards are going up in five key states — Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia — and will encourage political independents and conservative Democrats to consider voting Republican, Harmon said."

The Democratic Party’s decision to adopt a platform embracing same-sex “marriage” “may end up sinking” the party, and hand Mitt Romney the issue he needs to energize Republican voters in the fall, according to one of his former rivals.

Former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee told AFR Talk’s “Today’s Issues” yesterday the Democrats’ formal support for marriage redefinition “will be the best thing that’s ever happened to the Republican Party, especially in the South and the Midwest.”

“If there was any vestige of the Democrat Party in some of these areas, this may end up sinking the ship,” he told the hosts.

...Huckabee, who championed that constituency in 2008, agrees. “Once a major political party and a president of the United States has now openly declared war on Biblical marriage and the traditional concept of one man, one woman for life, they no longer are going to support that,” he said.

A host of other pro-life, pro-family leaders agree the Democrats may have gone too far for middle America.

Our President Brian Brown tells him about Romney's record on marriage:

"If you go back to Massachussetts some people want to say '[Romney] wasn't strong on [marriage]' -- if you actually look at what he did he stood up for a state constitutional amendment. He's always said he knows in his heart that marriage is the union of a man and a woman that it's in the best interest of his state and of the country."

In one of the most important years ever in the battle for gay rights, it would be remiss to overlook the electoral effects of the issue on the 2012 presidential race.

... a fast-food restaurant, Chick-fil-A, has become the latest cultural flashpoint in the battle after its president opposed, on biblical grounds, gay marriage earlier this month.

... For their parts, both Obama and presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney have remained silent on the Chick-fil-A fracas, but Romney’s allies and surrogates have fought back hard.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who’s said to be a front-runner for the vice-presidential nomination, unloaded over the weekend on the prospect of the restaurant being frozen out of expansion into Boston and Chicago.

... Clearly, some Republicans see political gain in using the chain as a symbol for upholding conservative values like traditional marriage.

But could the battle over gay marriage help Romney in November?

There’s a strain of working-class whites who live in the heartland and are known, affectionately, as “Reagan Democrats.” These voters tend to be more fiscally liberal but socially conservative, and theoretically, the battle over gay rights could push them into Romney’s camp.

"We will rally supporters of traditional marriage to make sure they realize that the outcome of the presidential election may determine the future of marriage in our country"—Brian Brown, NOM president—

Washington, D.C.—Today, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) stated that the reported decision of the Democratic National Committee platform committee to include a redefinition of marriage in their national platform will make marriage a defining issue in the 2012 elections, especially in the presidential election. NOM pledged to rally supporters of marriage to make sure they know that reelecting President Obama could result in the end of marriage in America.

"The Democratic party has been captured by extremists from both coasts like Barney Frank and Nancy Pelosi who are determined to redefine marriage in our nation," said Brian Brown, NOM's president. "It's ironic that they hope to kill off the institution of marriage at their convention in Charlotte, because North Carolina like 31 other states, just voted overwhelmingly in favor of preserving marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The marriage amendment passed with 61% of the vote in North Carolina and enjoyed a plurality of support among Democrats and an overwhelming support of African Americans. We will rally supporters of traditional marriage to make sure they realize that the outcome of the presidential election may determine the future of marriage in our country."

The definition of marriage has been on the ballot in 32 states and every state has voted to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. This includes deep blue states like California, Maine, Oregon and Wisconsin. A survey last year by the Alliance Defending Freedom found that 61% of Americans believe that marriage should be only the union of one man and one woman.

"The DNC is leading Democrats off the cliff. Voters in virtually every one of the presidential swing states have voted for marriage as the union of one man and one woman," said Brown. "If the DNC gets its way the marriage amendments adopted in Ohio, Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Nevada and elsewhere will be overturned. That makes the definition of marriage a key issue in these swing states, and we fully intend to make sure that people realize that the outcome of the election is a proxy for the survival of traditional marriage in our nation."

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To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray (x130), eray@crcpublicrelations.com, or Jen Campbell (x145), jcampbell@crcpublicrelations.com, at 703-683-5004.

Paid for by The National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown, president. 2029 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. New § 68A.405(1)(f) & (h).

All the single ladies ... seem to really like President Obama.

A new Quinnipiac University poll shows Obama has a 2-to-1 advantage over Mitt Romney among single women in the 2012 presidential race. In fact, the survey underscores the so-called "marriage gap" between the two opponents -- in general, single voters favor Obama while married voters favor the Republican candidate.

According to the poll, married voters back Romney 51-38 percent. Single voters, though, back Obama 54-34 percent. The gap is much wider among single women -- 60 percent for Obama, 31 percent for Romney

"A study by the Brookings Institution has shown that for those that graduate from high school, who get a full-time job, and wait until 21 before they marry and then have their first child, the probability of becoming poor is two percent. And if those factors are absent, the probability of being poor is 76%. Here at the NAACP you understand the good and lasting difference that family makes.

[...]Any policy that lifts up and honors the family is going to be good for the country and that must be our goal. As President I will promote strong families and I will defend traditional marriage." [applause.]

Jane Pitt, the mother of actor Brad Pitt, was the target of hateful and misogynistic tweets from pro-abortion liberals after the Springfield News-Leader published her letter supporting Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, Twitchy reported Friday.

Gawker painted her as a "loon," but liberals on Twitter went overboard.

... "Once again, the Left’s revolting intolerance of conservative free speech is on display for all the world to see. Let’s hope Jane Pitt answers with even louder, bolder speech," Twitchy added.

...A post at Buzzfeed noted that in 2008, Brad Pitt donated $100,000 to fight California's Proposition 8. While he may differ with his mother's point of view, he still thinks highly of her.

"She's very, very loving — very open, genuine, and it's hilarious because she always gets painted in the tabloids as a she-devil. There's not an ounce of malice in her. She wants everyone to be happy," the actor said of his mother in January.

Read Jane Pitt's letter here.

Ben Knotts of the Examiner asks that question:

A current poll from Real Clear Politics has the presumed GOP nominee, Mitt Romney, consistently leading PresidentObama in the fall election, since May 15th, 2012.

Prior to May 15th, polls showed President Obama continually leading his GOP opponent in North Carolina., but since that day, Mitt Romney - the former Governor of Massachusetts - has not failed to carry the support of the state.

What caused the shift in numbers? The issue of same-sex marriage provides a reasonable explanation.

On May 8th, North Carolina voters banned same-sex marriage by amending their state constitution to only recognize marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

On May 9th, President Obama endorses same-sex marriage - putting himself at odds with North Carolina voters on the controversial issue.

On May 12th, Governor Romney addressed social-conservatives at Liberty University declaring that marriage is only between one man and one woman - putting himself in agreement with North Carolina voters on the issue.

By May 15th, Obama's lead has shifted to Romney, and Romney has held the lead consistently ever since.

I have given much thought to Richard Stoecker’s letter (“Vote for Mormon against beliefs,” June 15). I am also a Christian and differ with the Mormon religion.

But I think any Christian should spend much time in prayer before refusing to vote for a family man with high morals, business experience, who is against abortion, and shares Christian conviction concerning homosexuality just because he is a Mormon.

Any Christian who does not vote or writes in a name is casting a vote for Romney’s opponent, Barack Hussein Obama — a man who sat in Jeremiah Wright’s church for years, did not hold a public ceremony to mark the National Day of Prayer, and is a liberal who supports the killing of unborn babies and same-sex marriage.

I hope all Christians give their vote prayerful consideration because voting is a sacred privilege and a serious responsibility.

The Advocate (a gay news source):

Mitt Romney received his first endorsement from a group representing gay Americans when GOProud voted to support the presumptive Republican presidential nominee Tuesday night, saying that the businessman and former Massachusetts governor brings “the experience and expertise to turn this economy around.”

In a statement, the group for gay conservatives and their allies announced it had “enthusiastically,” but not unanimously, decided to back Romney despite his support for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would limit marriage to the union of one man and one woman.

“GOProud is prepared to commit significant resources to help make Mitt Romney the next President of the United States,” said Lisa De Pasquale, interim GOProud board chair and former CPAC director. The group plans to have a large presence at the Republican National Convention this September in Tampa, where it will hold the annual Homocon event.

After months of very carefully managing expectations about his “evolving” position on gay marriage, President Obama suddenly found himself last week careening between powerful forces like the steel ball in Elton John’s “pinball wizard.” His own Vice President threw him into the pinball machine, and then his Education Secretary thrust the plunger, launching him into game.

... The left is jumping for joy at their accomplishment, forcing President Obama out of the closet on gay marriage. Their celebration will be short-lived, though, because they have very likely cost him the presidency.

The presidential election is not going to be decided in states like California where George Clunie and Nancy Pelosi are cheering President Obama’s gay marriage “evolution,” but based on how voters in a series of swing states cast their ballots – states like North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Colorado and Nevada. President Obama and his buddies on the left have thrust the issue of same-sex marriage front and center in these swing states. How is that going to play? Not well for Obama.

The average margin of victory among these six swing states on marriage amendment votes was 61.33%, which almost precisely matches the vote that North Carolina voters cast last week in favor of their marriage amendment. That’s a far bigger majority than any candidate for president could ever hope to achieve in these states. Keep in mind, too, that some of the same activists who urged President Obama to endorse gay marriage were predicting the weekend before the North Carolina vote that the marriage amendment would fail. (This includes gay marriage activists and media activists at the New York Times, among other publications.) Instead, a broad and deep coalition of voters, including a plurality of Democrats, a majority of Independents and an overwhelming majority of Republicans and African Americans supported the marriage amendment.

Mitt Romney has moved out to an eight-point lead over President Obama in North Carolina after the two men were virtually tied a month ago.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Tar Heel State shows the putative Republican nominee earning 51% of the vote to Obama’s 43%. Two percent (2%) like some other candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

That’s a big change from last month when Romney posted a narrow 46% to 44% lead over the president in Rasmussen Reports’ first survey of the race in North Carolina. Democrats have signaled North Carolina’s importance as a key swing state by deciding to hold their national convention in Charlotte this summer.

... Last week, 61% of North Carolina voters last week approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between only a man and a woman. The next night, Obama became the first U.S. president to publicly endorse gay marriage.

It looks like Barack Obama’s decision to support gay marriage is hurting him in the polls. A CBS/NYT poll out tonight gives Mitt Romney a 3-point lead among voters, 46 percent to 43 percent. A Rasmussen poll conducted after Obama’s announcement on gay marriage gave Romney a 4-point lead. And in the Gallupdaily tracking poll (which is based on seven days’ polling), Obama’s only 1 point ahead today.

Overall, the CBS/NYT poll found that 25 percent of voters are less likely to back Obama because of his new position on gay marriage, while 16 percent are more likely.

Mitt Romney doubled down against same-sex marriage Saturday, using his commencement address at Liberty University to reaffirm his belief that marriage is between “one man and one woman.”

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee told graduates of the Jerry Falwell-founded evangelical university “culture — what you believe, what you value, how you live — matters.”

“As fundamental as these principles are, they may become topics of democratic debate from time to time,” Romney said. “So it is today with the enduring institution of marriage. Marriage is a relationship between one man and one woman.”

While many Republicans consider the sudden emergence of gay marriage as an issue in the 2012 presidential campaign an unhelpful distraction, social conservatives Sunday insisted the Obama administration has given presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney an opportunity.

“I think the president this past week took six or seven states he carried in 2008 and put them in play with this one ill-conceived position that he’s taken,” American Values President Gary Bauer said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“I think that Barack Obama has helped fit that missing piece of intensity that Mitt Romney is going to need,” Tony Perkins, president of the conservative Christian organization Family Research Council, said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

Gay marriage is suddenly the country’s hottest political talking point after Mr. Obama last week said he now personally supports same-sex marriages — though he said the legality of such unions should be decided by individual states.

Mr. Romney, who once argued in Massachusetts that he would be a better advocate for gay rights than Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, quickly drew a sharp contrast with the president on the issue, insisting that marriage is “one man, one woman.”