Retiring N.C. Gov. Complicates Marriage Ban

With North Carolina's Democratic governor, Beverly Perdue, retiring, more liberal voters are expected at the polls in May, possibly altering the results of a proposed constitutional marriage equality ban.

North Carolina Democrats will need to pick candidates in May to replace Perdue; they'll also be asked to weigh in on the gay marriage ban. While Republicans need to show up in May to pick their candidates for president, Democrats had no real reason to vote then, other than weighing in on the ban, before Perdue announced she was retiring. Now, Democrats will likely show up in larger numbers for the primary and possibly turn the tide on the marriage question.

Perdue, an opponent of the ban, urged the ballot initiative be moved from November so it didn't affect the presidential election and hand North Carolina to the GOP presidential candidate. When gay marriage opponents moved the vote to May, it seemed like it was moving swiftly to passage. Now, gay rights advocates say they have a better change of scoring a major upset. A defeat of the ban would be especially significant because North Carolina is a considered a Deep South state. But marriage equality opponents say Perdue's announcement doesn't matter, even with a larger Democrat turnout, the ban will still easily pass. Read more here.