Bush Heads Toward Defeat on Gay Marriage Measure
President Bush's election-year bid to amend the Constitution to ban same-sex marriage headed toward a lopsided defeat on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.
While two thirds of the 100-member Senate would be needed to pass the measure, Republican backers scrambled to get even a simple majority.
They conceded they did not have the 60 votes needed to survive a procedural vote scheduled for Wednesday, meaning the measure will likely be dead for the year.
Republicans, accused by Democrats of seeking the proposed amendment to rally their socially conservative base, vowed to try again.
"This issue is not going away," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican.
"I'm hoping we get some 45 (votes)," said Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, another member of the Republican leadership. "If we get close to 50 that would be great."
No, Rick...that would still be what you are tonight. A loser.
