Sucking Up to Voters: A Guide for Presidential Candidates

Obama

Do
• note that you repealed DADT, stopped enforcing DOMA and called for its repeal, and – belatedly – endorsed same-sex marriage
• mention that your Pentagon celebrated Pride month this year for the first time ever
• point out that your admin was the first to provide hospital visitation and medical decision-making rights to same-sex couples

Don't
• make it too obvious you backed gay marriage for political reasons
• remind people how long it took you to "evolve" on the issue

Romney

Do
• try to avoid the whole issue
• change the subject back to the economy
• note that you have the support of the gay conservative group GOProud
• say you at least favor "domestic-partnership benefits, hospital visitation rights, and the like"

Don't
• speak again at the extreme anti-gay conservative Liberty University
• fonldy reminisce about hazing a gay classmate in high-school
• mention you favor a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman, or that you'd instruct your Attorney General to enforce DOMA