Supporters of marriage equality in Maine are gearing up for a costly battle to defend the state's legalization of same-sex marriage. Opponents have hired Schubert Flint Public Affairs, the team behind the campaign to pass Proposition 8 in California, to advise them.
The AP reports: "Maine Freedom to Marry has hired Jesse Connolly, who's taking a
leave of absence as chief of staff to House Speaker Hannah Pingree.
Connolly, of South Portland, led Maine Won't Discriminate's successful
2005 campaign to keep the state's gay rights law. Connolly said
his political action committee has no specific fundraising goal but is
preparing for a high-profile and costly campaign. There will be direct
mail and media advertising, but there will also be plenty of one-on-one
conversations with voters, he said. 'This is going to be a campaign that a lot of folks are going to try to say has national implications,' Connolly said."
Petition-gathering is underway. Opponents must obtain 55,087 signatures of registered voters before September 15 to get a repeal measure on the ballot. If they do so, the marriage equality law will be put on hold pending teh outcome of a voter referendum.
