Biden's statement probably forced his hand. 

I'm delighted. The Grand Old Party used to be dedicated to human freedom, now we have to turn to the Democrats. If we could ever get the Dems away from their commitment to cradle-to-grave entitlement . . . . .

May 9, 2012 -- 4:13PM, vra wrote:

I'm happy he made the move because I think it's simply the right thing to do, but I also think this could hurt him in certain swing states like Ohio, Virginia, and North Carolina. 

This is my feeling as well.

May 9, 2012 -- 4:40PM, newsjunkie wrote:

I do think Obama will pay a political price for taking this stand, but it might not make that much difference. I think the economy is going to be the deciding factor in the presidential race.

I sincerely hope you are right, (Bolding mine). President Obama may have his faults, but at least he is not trying to take us back in  time, back to biblical times, like the "conservative right wingers" are.

May 9, 2012 -- 4:40PM, newsjunkie wrote:

May 9, 2012 -- 4:27PM, mainecaptain wrote:

May 9, 2012 -- 4:13PM, vra wrote:

I'm happy he made the move because I think it's simply the right thing to do, but I also think this could hurt him in certain swing states like Ohio, Virginia, and North Carolina. 

This is my feeling as well.

I agree with you, vra and mainecaptain, that it might be politically costly, but maybe the cost won't be very high. The race is for the independent vote, really, and the question is whether many of them focus on the typical wedge issues when deciding who to vote for. Also, Obama got rid of DADT and refused to defend DOMA, so he would just look like a coward if he kept saying he was "evolving" on the issue. Now it looks more like a gutsy move, as Thetwofish pointed out, and that may get him some support.

I do think Obama will pay a political price for taking this stand, but it might not make that much difference. I think the economy is going to be the deciding factor in the presidential race.

And I agree with the above.  However, in a very close race in several of these states, it may only take several thousand or so votes to determine who the winner will be.  However, with that being said, I do think probably most who even only follow the race somewhat would have known that there's a definitive difference between Obama and Romney on this. 

BTW, since we have just heard from one Republican that he thinks that women shouldn't have been allowed to vote, maybe next we'll hear much the same about blacks as well?  Nowadays, I wouldn't be at all surprised about much of anything coming from that party.  Both of my parents were life-long Republicans, but they really have to be rolling over in their graves now.  My sister, who has never voted for a Democrat in her life, is so angry with them that she says she'll not hesitate to vote for Obama this year and any Democrat who runs against our governor Snyder in 2014.