Cuomo Will Make Gay Marriage a “Priority”

New York attorney general and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo said Thursday that he would make it a "priority" to pass same-sex marriage legislation if elected, something that he believes he could achieve in his first year in office in 2011.

According to State of Politics, Cuomo responded to a question from a reporter at one of his attorney general press conferences.

"My opinion, from my policy point of view, it is a priority," he said. State of Politics reports that, "He also voiced confidence that he could get it done in his first year on the job -- something that has so far eluded both Eliot Spitzer and Gov. David Paterson."

City Hall News argues that Cuomo's discussion of the hot political issue at the press conference marks a departure from the careful way the attorney general has approached marriage equality since being elected to office in 2006.

"Asked to clarify why he was comfortable now speaking -- at a government event behind a podium with the attorney general seal -- on a matter he had specifically avoided discussing previously, Cuomo described the situation as wearing 'two hats,'" reports City Hall.

Cuomo said, "I'm still doing my job as attorney general, that's what today is all about, but I'm also campaigning as governor of New York, and as a candidate for governor, people want to know."

Cuomo, who announced his candidacy last month, has made support for same-sex marriage and other social issues one of five planks in his reform-minded platform.