Same-sex marriage: Election Center 2008

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Same-sex marriage

Dozens of states had ballot measures on same-sex marriage during the midterm elections in 2006, and the issue looks to heat up again as candidates campaign for 2008.

REPUBLICANS

John McCain
Supports definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, but opposes a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Says individual states should decide the issue. Says a federal marriage ban might be appropriate if courts overturned state marriage laws. Supports legal benefits for same-sex partners.

Watch McCain speak about same-sex marriage

Ron Paul
Supports definition of marriage as between a man and a woman, but opposes any federal marriage definition. Says that states should not be forced to recognize another state's same-sex marriage law. Opposed House measure amending the Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

DEMOCRATS

Hillary Clinton
Opposes same-sex marriage but supports civil unions. Says states should ultimately decide the issue. Opposes a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Watch Clinton speak about same-sex marriage

Barack Obama
Opposes same-sex marriage, but also opposes a constitutional ban. Supports civil unions.

Watch Obama speak about same-sex marriage

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The issues that make up American politics have many voices. Here are a few governmental organizations, interest groups and companies from across the political spectrum that are actors in the debate over same-sex marriage.

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