Politics in Minnesota’s Briana Bierschbach and Mike Mullen file an extensive report on the political fallout of Rep. Kerry Gauthier, DFL-Duluth, staying in the race including some expert opinion on how it might affect the amendment banning same-sex marriage. Gauthier was under police investigation in late July when police say he and a 17-year old man were engaged in sexual activity at a Duluth area rest stop.
The incident could also complicate the larger, DFL-supported campaign against a proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage. University of Duluth political science professor Wy Spano notes that Frank Schubert, the operative who has organized the pro-amendment campaigns across the nation and is now working for pro-amendment campaign Minnesota for Marriage, has a reputation for “tough” campaigns that capitalize on “just about anything they can.”
“I just have to believe that they’ll look at this and somehow try to damage the marriage amendment [opposition],” Spano said.