Obama Opposes November Ballot Initiative

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)  -- Both Barack Obama and John McCain have weighed in on opposite sides of an issue each would rather avoid, gay marriage.

Obama, in a letter to San Francisco's Alice B. Toklas Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender Democratic Club, says he opposes a ballot initiative that would undo a Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage. He calls Proposition 8 “divisive and discriminatory” to change California's constitution so that marriage is defined as a union between one man and one woman.

Obama supports civil unions, and in the past has said marriage should be reserved for a man and a woman. The letter represents a very gradual shift in his position.

Last week, Senator John McCain last week told the group Protect Marriage, which put the measure on the ballot, that he supports their cause.

But neither candidate has made a very splashy show of their support or opposition. “Both candidates are trying to play the middle,” said UC Berkeley political science professor Bruce Cain.

“You're going to have the left and the right mad at you and that's essentially the problem for both of them right now, and hence they'd rather not talk about the issue.”

Voters in McCain’s home state, Arizona, and voters in Florida must also decide gay marriage bans this November. But McCain said Iraq and the economy probably seem comparatively far less divisive for either candidate.

KCBS's Holly Quan reports

(jro)