Reuters Shines Spotlight on Role of Ballot Initiatives in ’08 Election

In contrast to the 2004 election, these types of ballot initiatives may not have the same power to mobilize anti-gay voters to support Republican candidate John McCain. Reuters pointed out that these voters may already view McCain's political platform as insufficiently anti-gay. "I have a hard time envisioning social conservatives who want to ban gay marriage in Florida getting excited about John McCain at the polls," said Daniel Smith, a political science professor at the University of Florida at Gainesville. "McCain doesn't have the credibility on the issue that Bush had and so people who come out to vote on it may not vote for McCain." As ballot initiatives develop in Florida and other states, it seems that McCain's past opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment – which President Bush had championed – may prevent him from reaping the spoils of the anti-gay vote.

Cindi Creager is Director of National News