Marriage bigots lose in NH

Not even close. The House vote defeating a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage was 207-125.

The vote ends this year's campaign for a constitutional ban of same sex unions; it takes a 60 percent majority in the House and Senate for any proposed amendment to reach a public vote, where it needs approval from two-thirds of voters.

Sen. Jack Barnes, R-Raymond, a ban sponsor, said the House had spoken and he would not pursue a similar amendment in the Senate. He said the result was neither surprising nor disappointing.

"We knew that right off, I mean it was a done deal," he said. "The people is the third rail in politics and obviously the people that voted against it didn't want to hit the third rail."