Gay marriage in California could both help and hinder Gavin Newsom’s gubernatorial hopes.
The mayor of San Francisco, who infamously issued same-sex marriage licenses in 2004, will certainly benefit from the state’s Supreme Court’s gay marriage ruling this year. While gays, youth and progressives could help him clinch the Democratic nomination, analysts suggest a different statewide playing field:
Republican political analyst Dan Schnur, who is not affiliated with any gubernatorial campaign, said the gay-marriage issue should help the two-term San Francisco mayor in the primary, but the general election is another matter.
Republicans have long succeeded by exploiting the “San Francisco values” label in statewide races, most recently with former Mayor Dianne Feinstein in her gubernatorial run against Pete Wilson in 1990.
…
“It could be a double-edged sword in the general election. In the Democratic primary, it´s a huge plus,” Mr. Schnur said. “It allows him to break away from the pack.”
Newsom also faces an uphill battle for his public affair, subsequent divorce and admitted alcoholism.
Of course, Newsom’s gubernatorial election wouldn’t happen for two more years, so we still have to get through November, when the recently inaugurated gay marriages may be squashed by a statewide amendment on the matter. The anticipation is killing us!
Robert Raiken
Even Gov. Schwartzenegger is intent on stopping the gay marriage referendum on the election.
Civil rights are supported by a majority of the electorate. I’m not crazy about gay marriage however it is written in the Declaration that ALL
people have the right pursue happiness, Thomas Jefferson.
Jenny
Umm.. not quite. Newsom, and the racist elitists in the gay lobby have pushed more democrats into voting republican. They’ve promoted the displacement of American citizens of all races, in the workplace. Too busy promoting a Caligulaesque slave labor society in California. You’ve no idea how badly Newsom or any similar democrat would do in an election, absolutely no idea.
KB
Jenny, you’re an idiot.
kiersten schloder
i think everyone should have the same rights. whether they are gay straight or bi. if you don’t agree, then you either need to examine the subject more closely or keep your opinions to yourself.
Diana
While I may not care for gay marriage itself, but I do care about giving equality to all people, despite their gender, race, and religion. Frankly, I do want to keep marriage traditional, but I do not want hinder people’s rights because of a tradition (which was the main reason I decided to opt out voting prop 8). Perhaps we ought to give this ‘civil union’ a different name besides marriage so that even if it is coined differently, it would be considered equal to a marriage.