Obama Campaign Mum on Pro-Marriage Democratic Platform

The Obama campaign isn't directly commenting on a growing number of national campaign co-chairs and congressional Democrats calling for a pro-marriage equality platform for the party.

In a conference call Wednesday with reporters, Obama campaign manager Jim Messina said Democrats are "the big tent party" and touted the president's "great record on fighting for fundamental fairness" when asked by CNN's Jessica Yellin about Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the Democratic National Convention chair and Obama national cochair who said he supported a marriage equality-inclusive platform during a Politicoevent in Washington, D.C., this morning.

But Messina said the platform committee has yet to be formed and didn't comment on whether the president would support a pro-marriage plank. Rather, he spoke of a presidential record that "stands in sharp contrast to the other side," referring to a field of GOP presidential candidates who have opposed "don't ask, don't tell" repeal and supported with a federal constitutional amendment banning marriage rights for same-sex couples.

Mayor Villaraigosa joined a growing number of Obama national cochairs who have called for the Democratic platform to include marriage equality support when the party convenes this September in Charlotte, N.C., to nominate the president for reelection.

Last week several cochairs including Colorado senator Michael Bennet and California attorney general Kamala Harris said they supported the inclusive platform in responses to The Advocate.

The Washington Blade reported Friday that 22 Democratic senators supported the platform push (read the story here).

Update:Following the Wednesday Politico event in Washington, Mayor Villaraigosa issued the following statement regarding his support for the platform initiative spearheaded by the LGBT group Freedom to Marry:

"If we truly believe in family values, we should value all families. I have supported marriage equality since 1994, opposed and fought Proposition 8, am proud to serve as a co-chair of Mayors for the Freedom to Marry -- and I strongly endorse a Democratic Party platform that supports full marriage equality.

"The Democratic Party platform will be developed by our platform committee and voted on by all delegates to the Democratic National Convention. As it develops the platform, our party will listen to all voices from all parts of the country. It's all part of putting on the most open and accessible convention in our country's history."