Dan Balz notes that on gay marriage, “GOP leaders know their position is no longer a winning one.” More: “The Supreme Court justices can see the contours of this debate — rapidly moving public opinion along with generational and geographic differences — and may choose not to deal directly with the California proposition. Absent a Supreme Court decision, the battle to legalize these unions will be waged state by state, with a patchwork that probably will divide red states from blue states. … But many politicians aren’t waiting for the court to act.”
Politico: “As the Supreme Court takes up same-sex marriage on Tuesday, a growing number of young Republicans are waving the white flag in the culture war over gay weddings — with many opting to focus on economic issues instead.”
Mr. Grassroots…. Howard Dean says his PAC will work to flip state legislatures.
GEORGIA: Rep. Phil Gingrey (R) is expected to jump into the Senate race today.
IOWA: Steve King is leaning toward a Senate bid, the Des Moines Register reports. “U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Ia., hinted Monday he is leaning toward a run next year for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin, saying the odds are ‘a little more than 50-50’ that he will launch a campaign. ‘I have never wanted to be the guy who looked back and said, “Woulda, coulda, shoulda…” So that is part of the consideration.’”
MASSACHUSETTS: Ed Markey leads Stephen Lynch 35%-24% in the Democratic primary to replace John Kerry in a MassINC poll, but 30% are undecided or don’t know who either of them is.
On the Republican side, US attorney Michael J. Sullivan leads state Rep. Daniel B. Winslow 10% and private-equity investor/ex-Navy Seal Gabriel E. Gomez 8%.
