"I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. Now, for me as a Christian, it's also a sacred union. God's in the mix."

— Sen. Barack Obama, Interview with Rick Warren,
Saddleback Church, August 16, 2008

"I am saying that we should preserve the unique status of marriage between one man and one woman."

— Sen. John McCain,  Interview with Rick Warren,
Saddleback Church, August 16, 2008

"Neither Barack Obama nor I support redefining from a civil side what constitutes marriage. We do not support that."

—  Sen. Joe Biden, Vice Presidential Debate,
October 2, 2008

"I will tell Americans straight up that I don't support defining marriage as anything but between one man and one woman."

—  Gov. Sarah Palin, Vice Presidential Debate,
October 2, 2008