The state of North Carolina has, in overwhelming fashion voted to write a ban on gay marriage in its constitution. Oh, but North Carolina is just one of those backward southern states, right? It’s not reflective of the rest of the country, you say? Well, bear in mind that North Carolina is actually the 31st state in the country to ban same sex marriage. bear in mind, also, that North Carolina went for Democrat Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election and Obama remains confident he will win North Carolina again (though he didn’t want to be seen there this week, we have come to learn: He cancelled a planned campaign trip there this week).

The results in North Carolina make it clear why liberal Democrats in New Hampshire are so vehemently opposed to allowing Granite State voters to give them guidance on this issue by voting on a non-binding referendum. They know they would lose.