Democrats take calculated risk by punting on same-sex marriage

Democrats are taking a calculated risk with their decision not to hold a Senate vote on legislation to codify same-sex marriage into law until after the midterm elections, a move that effectively takes away a messaging point the party could use for campaign fodder.  Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) — who are tasked with cobbling together the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster — late last week pushed their effort to secure 10 GOP votes until after Election Day, attempting to trade a short-term attack line for a great chance at enshrining marriage equality. 

Undecided Republican senators were hesitant to jump out one way or another ahead of the midterms, wary to hand Democrats another messaging point. 

The position of national Democrats, however, is simple: We don’t need it as part of the messaging plank. 

“The ability to paint Republicans as radical and out of step is always useful, but this election is going to be about affordability and abortion, and Democrats don’t need more examples to prove that Republicans are doing nothing on affordability and are extreme on abortion,” said Joshua Karp, a Democratic strategist who is working on multiple Senate races, including in Wisconsin, where Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes (D) is looking to unseat Sen. Ron Johnson (R).