The group rallying support for a state constitutional ban on gay marriage and civil unions sent Attorney General Roy Cooper a letter Thursday asking if he is going to defend a lawsuit that challenges the state's marriage laws.
The Vote for Marriage NC Referendum Committee asked for Cooper's answer by Jan. 8. A spokesman for Cooper's office told Dome on that, yes, they will be defending the suit.
Guilford County Registrar of Deeds Jeff Thigpen, Greensboro ministers and Triad residents filed a suit Dec. 8 challenging state laws that require couples to seek licenses and participate in a marriage ceremony conducted by a magistrate, pastor, priest or rabbi.
The suit argues that it is unconstitutional for the state to prevent pastors, priests and rabbis from solemnizing marriages of same-sex couples.
The pro-amendment group painted the lawsuit as an attempt to have the courts create a new definition of marriage ahead of the May referendum.
Romney, Burr have history
After U.S. Sen. Richard Burr endorsed Mitt Romney in the presidential primary, former Dome-meister Ryan Teague Beckwith, now a Roll Call editor, went digging in the Dome archives for Burr-Romney posts.
Beckwith tweeted a 2008 Dome post indicating not all was chummy between Burr and Romney. Back then, Burr backed U.S. Sen. John McCain for president and said Romney would "divide Republicans" because Romney had said former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole was the last person he'd want to write a letter for him.
This year Dole is supporting Romney and wrote an "Open Letter to Iowa Voters," which ran in the form of a half-page Des Moines Register newspaper ad.
Guess three years was plenty of time for handshakes all around.
Third party gains
A non profit group Americans Elect has been busy collecting signatures to get a third party on North Carolina's ballot next November.
The group has already collected 39,627 of the 85,379 signatures it needs to get on the ballot, according to the State Board of Elections.
The group, which has already gained ballot access in 13 states, hopes to take advantage of discontent with both of the major political parties. It plans to nominate a candidate based on an Internet process of people voting online.
The presidential nominee must then choose a vice presidential running mate from the opposite party.
The chief executive officer of the group is Kahlil Byrd and the chairman is Peter Ackerman.
It is widely seen as an effort to recruit a ticket of centrists such as former Secretary of State Colin Powell or New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Others see it becoming a potential stalking horse for Congressman Ron Paul if he fails to capture the GOP nomination or GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman. Even former University of North Carolina president Erskine Bowles has been mentioned.
To qualify for the North Carolina ballot, the signatures must be collected from at least four North Carolina counties. The signatures must be submitted to the state board by June 1.
So far, the American Elect signatures have come from five counties: Mecklenburg (25,250), Wake (11,651), Durham (1,641) Guilford (873) and Orange (175.)
"They seem to be fairly well organized," said Johnnie McLean, deputy state elections director.
Nationally, Americans Elect says it has collected 2.3 million signatures.
