Ford Makes His Case in Op Ed

Former Tennessee congressman Harold E. Ford Jr. writes Tuesday in the New York Post that he is "strongly considering" a run for the United States Senate, in an op-ed that discusses his new position in favor of marriage equality.

Ford, who became a New York resident one year ago, writes about his support of handgun control and reproductive freedom -- issues of interest to more liberal downstate Democrats in a potential primary against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed to the seat vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton last year.

Ford also broaches the subject of his new support for marriage equality, which he first confirmed to Matt Lauer on NBC's Today showon Monday. As a congressman, Ford voted twice for the constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.

"And from the moment I arrived in Congress, I supported civil unions," writes Ford in the Post while invoking Sen. Chuck Schumer. "Like New York's senior senator, after listening to and participating in the national conversation about full equality and fairness, I support same-sex marriage."

On Monday, after Ford announced the about-face on Today, Alan Van Capelle, the head of the statewide gay rights group Empire State Pride Agenda, a staunch Gillibrand supporter, issued a statement calling Ford a "snake oil salesman."