Here's something I expect President Obama to say

[MineralMan]

during the campaign. I think it will be a pattern. First, he'll point out one of his administration's achievements during his first term, then use that as a jumping off point to speak about goals in his second term. I believe you'll see that pattern again and again during the campaign. We forget achievements, and need to be reminded of them, and then see how those achievements can be made even stronger in his second term. Here's an example of something he might say, depending on where he is:

He'll say something like:

"During my first term, my administration worked with Congress to end Don't Ask Don't Tell and make military service available to all Americans, not just heterosexual Americans. In my second term, we will work to repeal DOMA and let the states get on with the business of making marriage available to all couples, regardless of the gender of the two people. Already, seven states and the District of Columbia have taken this step, and it's a step that has found its time. Watch for more and more states to provide marriage equality for their citizens. My administration will work to equalize marriages from all states which take this step by removing obstacles on the federal level that prevent couples from enjoying all the legal benefits of marriage. Make no mistake, marriage is a matter for each state to regulate, but the federal government, under an Obama administration, will not stand in the way of marriage equality for those married in states that have taken that step. This is the United States of America, after all."

[Enrique]

1. that's not his position

if he says that, he'll have evolved quite a bit.

[MineralMan]

2. Actually, I think that is his position.

You notice that my version includes a states' rights statement. He won't say that the Federal Government will insist that states implement marriage equality, but he'll say that the Federal Government will recognize marriage to be whatever the states say it is. By doing that, he doesn't have to say that he supports same-sex marriage. He'll just be saying that he recognizes that states have the right to marry whom they choose and that the Federal government will recognize the marriages they perform. The key here is that more and more states will be approving marriage equality. There's a tipping point, and I think it has been reached. His own personal opinion doesn't have to enter into it. Just watch.

I'd prefer that he embraced marriage equality on a personal level, but if he does not, he can still support it passively.