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FRIDAY'S EDITORIAL

Marriage vote will strengthen GOP in 2006

THE ISSUE: S.C. vote on same-sex marriages

OUR OPINION: Amendment question will bring out more conservatives

The 2006 election campaign in South Carolina will feature a vote on a constitutional amendment that will prompt more debate than the customary amendment question.

If the furor over same-sex marriages around the country is an indicator, there is certain to be active and open campaigns on both sides of the issue.

The S.C. House this week agreed to Senate changes in a bill that would put the question of same-sex marriages before voters, who will be asked to change the S.C. Constitution to spell out that "marriage between one man and one woman is the only lawful domestic union that shall be valid or recognized in this State."

State law already bars same-sex unions, but supporters say a constitutional ban is needed in the face of judicial rulings from around the country. The primary fear is South Carolina would have to recognize same-sex couples married in other states.

As much as the state law should be adequate to ensure South Carolina does not recognize same-sex marriages, there seems little doubt the state's voters will give their OK to the constitutional change. We're a conservative state with a recent history of voting strongly Republican — and GOP candidates won't hesitate to connect themselves with those supporting the amendment.

The candidates who may find the amendment problematic are Democrats, who indeed may first have to address the issue in a June primary campaign. Aiken Sen. Tommy Moore was among senators supporting the amendment, but he may face opposition from Florence's mayor and others in a campaign to determine who faces Gov. Mark Sanford in November 2006. He will need the support of people that contend no such constitutional change "denying rights to some South Carolinians" is wanted or needed.

And while one might contend those opposing the amendment will go with the Democratic nominee over Sanford, no matter what, there is the lesson from 1992 and Sanford's defeat of Democrat Jim Hodges. African-Americans upon which Hodges counted did not turn out in sufficient numbers, with Hodges critics saying he took the vote for granted.

Couple amendment opponents staying away with supporters rallying conservatives to the polls to ensure passage and the possibilities for Democrats winning statewide races are all the more remote. Even the likes of Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum could find re-election difficult.

Putting the marriage question on the ballot may not be an overt GOP effort to attract more conservatives to the polls in 2006, but it might as well be.