Republican insiders wish marriage would go away

A poll from the National Journal reveals a change in perception amongst political operatives. Democrats are pro-marriage equality, while Republican operatives would like to ignore it as an issue.

What's striking is the comparison of views in 2009, when Democrats wanted the issue to go away, and now, when they are substantially in support; conversely, Republicans thought the party should oppose equality in 2009, and now 56% think they should ignore it as an issue.  (Concomitant with that, you can see Republican opposition decline modestly.)

One presumes that this desire to avoid the issue on the part of the Republicans is a recognition  that the red-meat anti-gay language that plays to the base in the primary is now toxic to the middle in the general election.