Gavin Newsom Yanks Support for Harold Ford, Jr. Over Gay Marriage Flack

Last week, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom withdrew his support of a S.F. fundraiser for Congressman Harold Ford Jr., who is running for Senate in Tennessee.

“San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who has become one of the nation’s most visible champions of gay marriage, has withdrawn his support as honorary co-chair of a campaign fundraiser for a Tennessee congressman who voted in favor of an anti-same-sex-marriage bill.”

“Rep. Harold Ford Jr., a Democrat from Memphis, Tenn., decided to postpone the Dec. 3 fundraiser at the Bubble Lounge in San Francisco until mid-January after Newsom’s office put pressure on the congressman to cancel the event. A Newsom spokesman said the mayor was unaware of Ford’s vote for the Marriage Protection Act when the fundraiser was scheduled and he agreed to be a co-chairman. Gay rights groups had urged Newsom to boycott the fundraiser.”

TheStateOf…the Democratic Party. I’ve always said I think Newsom sunk John Kerry’s campaign by forcing the issue of gay marriage into the spotlight. Nearly half of all voters strongly oppose gay marriage. When Newsom “married” hundreds of gay couples in S.F., he played right into President Bush’s hands and forced Kerry to craft a position on the issue. The Democratic Party is split on the gay marriage issue. Until it speaks with one voice, the issue will continue to plague Democratic candidates.