Newswise — Adam Seth Levine, assistant professor of government at Cornell University and an expert on political behavior and public policy, comments on President Obama's endorsement of same-sex marriage.
He says:
“The president saying he supports same-sex marriage is historic, and it is potentially going to affect the campaign and election. This is precisely the kind of change many people were clamoring for in 2008.
"There's a concern that all the young energy that volunteered and voted for Obama in 2008 might be more tepid in 2012. Young people ages 18-29 are overwhelmingly in support of same sex marriage. Yet, at the same time, this demographic has a very high unemployment rate right now, so to the extent Obama can shift attention away from the economy and give people change that they can believe in, this will energize them. They will no doubt provide important manpower in the ground game leading up to Election Day in November. Bush used a similar tactic in 2004, diverting conservative activists' attention toward gay marriage instead of concerns about Iraq and the Middle East.
"Obama's statement on same-sex marriage may not be the game changer that affects the election and moves attention away from the economy. But it is one way for him to clearly differentiate himself from Romney and give people a reason to spend time volunteering, spend money donating, and support him in the ballot box in November."
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