David Scharfenberg's take:

[Proponents of SSM in RI] been caught off guard by the prowess of the church, which has joined with the nation’s leading anti-gay marriage group [i.e. NOM] to mount a surprisingly potent defense of the status quo.

Bishop Thomas J. Tobin is summoning lawmakers to his office; the opposition is bombarding legislators with phone calls; and the State House halls echo with chatter about what it all means for the next election. [source]

Photo of NOM-RI's Christopher Plante by Richard McCaffrey (www.thephoenix.com)