Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid

North Carolina law already bans gay marriage, but the amendment on the state ballot effectively slammed that door. With 74 percent of precincts reporting, more than 60 percent had voted to strengthen the ban, while just under 40 percent had opposed it. Burberry Bags Sale, Cheap Burberry Outlet Online, 50% 0ff. In the days before the North Carolina vote, two top administration officials — Vice President Joe Biden and Education Secretary Arne Duncan — expressed support for gay marriage. Obama supports most gay rights but has stopped short of backing gay marriage. The Biden and Duncan comments sent the White House into damage-control mode as gay rights advocates pressed for him to publicly support of same-sex unions before November. Aides also tried to use the focus on the issue to criticize Romney's equivocations on gay rights over the years. Obama's campaign said Tuesday that the president was "disappointed" with the state's amendment. Obama's spokesman for North Carolina, Cameron French, called the measure "divisive and discriminatory." Romney, in turn, emphasized his position that marriage should be solely between one man and one woman. He has said he supports a federal constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. In Wisconsin, voters chose Barrett — one of four Democrats on the ballot — to challenge Walker in the June 5 recall election. Union rights are dominating the recall. Walker effectively ended collective bargaining rights for most state workers and since then has emerged as a national conservative hero. The recall effort, mounted by opponents of his actions, has dominated the state political landscape, even overshadowing Romney's primary victory there that essentially ended the nomination fight. Now the presumptive nominee, Romney had no serious opposition burberry scarf & cap in Indiana, West Virginia and North Carolina on Tuesday. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who gave Romney a tepid endorsement Monday night via email, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich have dropped out of the race. Texas Rep. Ron Paul is still contesting the nomination, but he lags far behind in the delegate count.The 52-45 vote to begin debating the legislation fell eight votes short of the 60 needed to proceed and stalled work on an effort both parties expect will ultimately produce a compromise, probably soon. For now, each side is happy to use the stalemate to snipe at the other with campaign-ready talking points while they are gridlocked over how to cover the $6 billion cost. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the vote showed that despite GOP claims that they support preventing an increase in student loan rates, "Republicans showed today that it's only talk." He also noted that the likely GOP presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, supports a temporary extension of today's low rates and needled, "I suggest he pick up the phone and call Senator McConnell." That was a reference to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who said the battle is a phony one manufactured by Democrats to woo votes from students. Both parties say they want to extend low interest rates. "The Senate has ceased to be a place where problems are resolved. It's become instead a place discount burberry women shoes outlet black where Democrats produce campaign material," McConnell said.