MN Marriage Measure Backers Raise $1.4 Million

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The group that's pushing to ban gay marriage in Minnesota's constitution has raised $1.4 million so far in 2012, considerably less than what's been raised by its chief opponent.

Minnesota for Marriage announced its January to mid-June fundraising totals on Tuesday. Its $1.4 million total was dwarfed by the $3.1 million collected in the same period by Minnesotans United for All Families, which is working to defeat the amendment.

The amendment on the November ballot asks voters to decide whether a ban on gay marriage that's already in state law should be cemented in the state constitution.

The chairman of Minnesota for Marriage says the group had expected to raise less than its opponents and says a similar dynamic has not prevented campaigns to restrict gay marriage from prevailing in other states.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)