Does Rove know what he's doing? Perhaps.

In the aftermath of the Missouri vote for a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, we read in the New York Times: (emp add)

Supporters of amendments to ban gay marriage in states like Ohio pointed to Missouri's record election turnout - 41 percent in a primary election that in most years draws 15 percent to 25 percent - as a clear and exhilarating sign that the issue will lure their voters to the polls.

"What this has done is brought the people of faith to the table like I have never seen before," said Phil Burress, chairman of the Ohio Campaign to Protect Marriage, the group leading Ohio's effort to amend its Constitution. "This is what the Democrats biggest fear was - that something would energize the people of faith. And it has."

Those numbers are big and significant. So much for Political Animal's view that the gay marriage issue is not necessarily good for Bush.

And what is the dynamic behind the numbers?

On Friday, leaders of Missouri's anti-gay-marriage effort will offer advice in a conference call to those pushing for amendments in other states, she said.

Her own best advice to the other states, Ms. Hartzler said, would not be about politics. "The No. 1 thing is prayer," she said, "and a passion for protecting the sanctity of marriage."

Yup, that's the ticket. A religious election. Just what Karl Rove wants.

posted by Quiddity at 8/05/2004 12:39:00 AM