The Price of Gay Marriage

A federal constitutional ban on gay marriage may not be likely. But both Senate campaigns in Missouri seem to be trying to cash in on it.

Senator Jim Talent and Claire McCaskill recently sent out dueling messages to their supporters about the issue. Talent boasted about his vote for the ban, and expressed disappointment that it didn't pass. Although McCaskill has repeatedly said she believes marriage is between a man and a woman, Talent continues to hammer her for supporting gay marriage. Talent pledged to continue to fight for a gay marriage ban and issued this warning to his supporters:

"If Teddy Kennedy, Hillary Clinton and Harry Reid are returned to the Senate, today's vote would not have happened," writes Talent in his e-mail message, that asks for financial support.

McCaskill also jumped on the marriage issue to try to raise some cash. McCaskill calls the proposed ban a stunt designed to "invigorate their base." She says she is appalled that Republicans are using marriage as a campaign issue with a war, high gas prices and an exploding deficit to deal with.

McCaskill accuses Talent of reverting to personal negative attacks, lies and innuendos to smear her. "Their campaign sees the same numbers that we do. And they are in trouble . . . I refuse to back down from this fight. You know me. I am prepared to fight back with everything within my power, but they have one important advantage over me - money."