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US conservatives keeping score in marriage debate

US President George W. Bush's push for the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage that is being debated in the Senate this week comes as many Republicans and religious conservatives are beginning a campaign to help lawmakers who support it during this year's elections -- and to punish those who do not.

Though people on both sides of the debate say they do not expect the amendment to come anywhere near winning approval this week, both sides say they expect it, and an anticipated version in the House of Representatives, to be used as a conservative litmus test in elections this fall.

"It is true what this vote will do will be to help the voters identify who is and is not supportive of the family," James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, said in an interview on Monday. "And I think those that are not are going to have to answer for it."

The proposed Senate amendment would define marriage as being between a man and a woman and would prohibit judges from requiring states to grant same-sex couples the legal benefits of marriage.

Republican officials are hoping that the marriage debate will help them as it did in 2004, when 13 state ballot initiatives banning same-sex marriage helped draw conservative voters to the polls and propelling Bush and congressional Republicans to victory.
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