Romney helps push for S.C. gay marriage ban

Governor Mitt Romney, a leading campaigner to outlaw gay marriage in Massachusetts, is now involving himself in a like-minded effort in South Carolina, where voters will decide this fall whether to add a similar ban to their state constitution.

Romney's political action committee, the Commonwealth PAC, has given the South Carolina ballot campaign $5,000, its largest donation ever. He is the effort's first ``campaign sponsor," a distinction reserved for major contributors. Romney also plans to send out a fund-raising letter on behalf of the initiative to about 150,000 South Carolinians in the next few weeks. And he's expected to headline an event for it after Labor Day.

``We definitely appreciate the help of Governor Romney and his PAC," said Drew McKissick, state director for the campaign, SCformarriage.org.

Though Romney's involvement in South Carolina politics is not new -- his PAC has already made thousands of dollars in contributions to candidates and GOP organizations there -- the governor's active role in the campaign for a gay marriage ban illustrates the degree to which he is ingratiating himself in the state in advance of a possible 2008 presidential run.

Julie Teer, the political director of Romney's PAC, said the governor is trying to counter what he considers judicial activism. Gay marriage in Massachusetts was made legal by a 2003 decision of the Supreme Judicial Court here.

``Governor Romney believes marriage is between a man and a woman, and he has been fighting hard in Massachusetts and around the nation to protect the institution of marriage from activist judges," Teer said in an e-mail.

But the head of a coalition fighting the proposed gay-marriage measure in South Carolina warns that her state doesn't take kindly to outsiders interjecting themselves into local affairs.

``The thing is that South Carolinians want to hear from other Southerners and other people from South Carolina about what this is going to mean in our daily lives," said Asha Leong, campaign manager for the Fairness for All Families Campaign.

South Carolina holds one of the most important Republican presidential primaries, and Romney has made several trips to the state. His PAC just hired a fund-raiser and activist to build support there.

But some observers believe that Romney, in part because he's governor of the only state to have legalized gay marriage, could have a tough time winning over conservative primary voters. Mike Green, a South Carolina Republican activist, said Romney is smart to position himself as a visible opponent of same-sex marriage.

``In South Carolina, the person who's thought of as the most conservative will win the state nine times out of 10," Green said.

Green noted that McKissick used to be political director of the Christian Coalition, which he said could give Romney access to a vast network of conservatives.

The amendment is widely expected to pass in November. Romney's assistance in the effort comes as he pushes for a proposed gay-marriage ban in Massachusetts.

Scott Helman can be reached at shelman@globe.com.