Gay Marriage Ruling Could Open 2016 Door for Portman

Cleveland Plain Dealer: “He could be hailed as farsighted, a serious leader who opened his party’s doors for all people and generations. Rob Portman could be the Republican Party’s first post-gay-marriage presidential candidate.”

“Social conservatives say a Portman presidency, let alone candidacy, cannot happen for that very reason – that Republicans will vote in primaries to reject someone who flipped on gay marriage. Social conservatives see the issue as fundamental to their values.”

“Yet several forces, political as well as demographic, may converge to render a presidential candidacy by Portman, the Ohio Republican U.S. senator, as at least nominally viable. Key to this is the fact that a Portman candidacy could align with a U.S. Supreme Court decision that would end the legal and constitutional fight over same-sex marriage. Such a ruling could come by next summer, well before the Republican voters go to the first 2016 caucuses and primaries.”