PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- A recent decision by the national Democratic party to include same-sex marriage support as part of the party platform at the convention next month has Maine's Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate reaffirming her support for the issue.
At a news conference in Portland Wednesday, Cynthia Dill said recent support at the national level for same-sex marriage could have meaning in November when Maine voters head to the polls.
Dill says she's confident things have changed since Maine voters repealed same-sex marriage back in 2009, and she says support for the issue by President Obama and the national Democratic party could make a difference in November.
"This is an important issue. It's an important issue to Mainers obviously, and it's an important issue to America, and I stand with the president and the Democrats in supporting marriage equality," Dill said.
In statements released Wednesday from the two other major candidates for U.S. Senate, Crystal Canney, a spokesperson for Independent candidate Angus King, said, "Angus has supported marriage equality from the beginning."
Jen Webber, a spokesperson for Republican candidate Charlie Summers, said, "Charlie personally believes marriage is between a man and a woman. But the marriage issue is not a federal issue at this time, and it will ultimately be decided as it should be, by Maine voters through the referendum process."
The referendum question on same-sex marriage will go before Maine voters in November.
NEWS CENTER