DeWine wants to ban gay unions

(This is the same stunt Republicans pulled in Ohio during the 2004 Presidential elections - Kenneth Blackwell put a gay marriage ban proposal on the ballot and got the backwoods base out to the polls.)

Ohio Sen. Mike DeWine said yesterday that he will take a lead role in pushing for a U.S. constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, at least in part to regain support from unhappy conservatives in his state.

The Republican said he would co-sponsor the amendment that Senate GOP leaders have scheduled for a vote in June. Although the measure has more than 20 co-sponsors, supporters concede it is unlikely the Senate will approve it by the required two-thirds majority. <

But the amendment is symbolically important to social conservatives across Ohio, many of whom were disappointed in 2004 when DeWine did not support an Ohio constitutional amendment to define marriage as solely a union of one man and one woman. That issue sparked a huge turnout of conservative voters who helped President Bush win re-election.

Although DeWine is expected to easily win the May Republican primary, he faces a stern challenge in November from Rep. Sherrod Brown, of Avon, the likely Democratic nominee for the Senate race. To prevail, DeWine will need a heavy turnout from conservatives, many of whom are unhappy with him on issues of same-sex marriage and curbing immigration.

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