In an echo of the 2004 U.S. presidential run-off, the issue of gay marriage has been placed squarely on this year's campaign agenda. Democratic presumptive nominee Barack Obama has stated that he strongly opposed a ballot measure which would wind back the recently-changed Californian constitution law allowing gay marriage in the state.

His opponent Republican John McCain has said he supports the November bill.

Obama said in a letter to San Francisco's Alice B. Toklas Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Democratic Club that he opposed "the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution" and other similar moves across the country.

McCain, though, said in a statement to the Protect Marriage Campaign he supported the bill to reverse the Californian Supreme Court's decision: "I support the efforts of the people of California to recognize marriage as a unique institution between a man and a woman, just as we did in my home state of Arizona. I do not believe judges should be making these decisions." [source]

The issue has divided political commentators between those who believe it has the potential to be used by sections of the Christian lobby to mobilise supporters in favour of Senator McCain's campaign.