The recent gay marriage ruling in Polk County may affect the presidential race, although some disagree as to how much.

Steffen Schmidt, university professor of political science, spoke on his talk show yesterday about same-sex marriage issues in Iowa. He said he thinks gay rights activists should really push presidential candidates to make a clear stance on their opinions concerning same-sex marriage and civil unions.

“Why would they let political leaders get away without questioning their stances on the issue?” he asked. “They should be asking ‘What is your stance on gay marriage?’ and ‘Do you support it?'”

Schmidt said currently Democratic Party leaders have been resistant to approach the same-sex marriage issue and have instead focused on the more popular issues at hand, such as the war in Iraq, health care and economic solutions.

He said the same-sex marriage issues have now been tossed into the political fire, and some presidential candidates who were hoping to escape the issue in the upcoming election are being questioned publicly.

Schmidt said this is a hot issue currently and one that could potentially cause some American voters to question if their favorite candidate is going to suit them best in all aspects of their own beliefs.

Dianne Bystrom, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics, said this issue will be more of a push for social conservatives rather than a potential strong stance for the Democratic Party. Bystrom believes that although gay rights are being addressed more heavily now in comparison to past elections, other concerns will continue to receive more political coverage and attention. Political stances on the war, health care, immigration, and other press-dominated issues will get the most attention, causing voters to cast votes for a leader who they think will work to get these things done first and foremost.

Bystrom also said she didn’t think candidates will shift positions or reevaluate their stance right now.

Until the majority of Americans believe gay marriage is acceptable and are less opposed to the issue, Bystrom believes the issue will not be greatly regarded.

Bystrom said that recently, gay rights progress has been on the up and up.

“I think Democratic leaders took a big step forward by having a gay marriage debate for this election. However, social progress by nature tends to be a long haul,” she said.

Matthew Fender, public relations chair for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Ally Alliance and senior in Spanish, said the recent gay marriage in Iowa will definitely keep people alert and thinking about the issue.

Fender said LGBTAA members tend to compromise more with Democratic leaders’ positions on gay rights.

However, Fender said a political candidate has not stood out to him or some other members of the alliance in regard to gay rights and marriage issues.

“I would say the more liberal Democratic presidential candidates are afraid to use the gay marriage concept because it is so polarizing to just one group” he said. “They are instead saying we want you to be legally equal, but could just call your relationship a civil union.

This would allow liberal religious groups to still defend traditional marriage. Democrats may just fear they alienate religious groups.”