US President Barack Obama’s coming out in support of gay marriage is currently making major news in the United States and around the world. Apart from the obvious importance of Mr Obama’s stance for the gay community, the matter is also of political interest everywhere. Mr Obama is running for re-election in November this year and his campaign has suddenly found an issue that can polarise voters.
The Obama campaign has released an advertisement pointing to the Democrat President’s differences with his most likely Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, on the issue. Mr Romney, who does not support civil unions or marriage between people of the same gender, has been described as “backwards on equality”.
Mr Obama, in contrast, was quoted as saying at a fundraiser that his vision for a better America applies to everyone, “no matter what you look like, no matter what your last name, no matter whom you love”.
Voters in America tend to be committed supporters of either the Republican or Democratic Party. A campaign issue, therefore, is one that would be designed to either galvanise one’s own support base, or win over the undecided swing voters.
This issue is likely to achieve both. Whether it will work for Mr Obama, or against him, is unclear at the moment because the polarisation will be on both sides.