NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who gave an impassioned speech earlier this month about the need for marriage equality, got on a plane this morning to Albany to meet with Senate Republicans in the second day of conference=ing over the amrriage equality bill, the NYT City Room reports:

His trip comes at a sensitive time for the Republican senators, who are embroiled in a fierce internal debate about how to proceed on gay marriage: most of them are opposed to the measure, but a handful are prepared to vote for it, if Senator Dean G. Skelos, the majority leader, allows the issue to reach the Senate floor…

…It was Mr. Bloomberg who requested the 10:30 am meeting Thursday, the person briefed on the matter said, to make his case for why New York should become the sixth and largest state in the country to allow gay couples to wed. He is expected to argue that it is consistent with Republican principles of limited government, personal liberty and strong families.

According to activity on Twitter, GOP Senators have begun arriving at the conference, a velvet rope has been set up to hold back media outside the state house office, and Skelos is welcoming the Bloomberg visit but won't comment on if it will change minds or if the measure will come to the floor.

NY Marriage Wire…
Jon Stewart on NY Marriage Equality and Fake Lesbian Bloggers: VIDEO [tr]
Marriage Equality Conference on Tap for NY Senate Again Today [tr]
New York Assembly Approves Marriage Equality in Vote of 80-63 [tr]
Former NY Giant David Tyree Comes Out as NOM's Latest Spokesbigot: VIDEO [tr]
NY Senate Minority Leader Sampson Says 'Finish Line in Sight': VIDEO [tr]
NY Senate GOP Leader Skelos Says No Decision on Vote, Conference to Continue [tr]