RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Virginia's constitutional amendment on marriage could help either Republican or Democrat candidates seeking office in November, depending on who's talking.
GOP activists said the likely beneficiary is U.S. Sen. George Allen, the Republican incumbent who until recently seemed a shoo-in, the Washington Times said Sunday. Democratic activists said the measure is stirring opposition.
Virginia's Family Foundation said amendments defining traditional marriage help drive voter turnout, particularly among conservative Republican voters who otherwise might not vote because of frustration with the party's national standard-bearers, the Times said.
Allen favors the amendment. Democratic challenger James H. Webb Jr., a former Republican secretary of the Navy under President Reagan, opposes the change, calling it broad and discriminatory.
A Mason-Dixon poll showed voters favoring the amendment, but support is dropping, the newspaper said.
Democrats can link the amendment to Allen's use of the word "macaca" to address a Webb volunteer, the Times said. Allen apologized to the worker, who is of Indian descent, and repeatedly apologized at other appearances.
The remark hurt Allen, who saw his one-time, double-digit lead evaporate, the Times said. Several polls now show Allen and Webb nearly tied.
