Gay marriage barely got a shout-out from Republican presidential candidates in announcement speeches forecasting the main themes of their campaigns.
And for the most part, marriage hasn't been the centerpiece of stump speeches in Iowa, despite Iowa's reputation for a fixation on social issues and predictions that only hard-right candidates would campaign here.
That's a relief for some budget- and economy-focused Iowa Republicans, who applaud Gov. Terry Branstad and Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn for nudging the GOP base in this direction.
Even Bob Vander Plaats doesn't mind that same-sex marriage isn't a shining-star issue on the campaign trail here.
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Complete article at Des Moines Register : http://bit.ly/kP3ZkH
