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[This post has been updated below]

Within minutes, the polls will be closing in Missouri, where voters today are deciding whether to put a ban against same-sex marriage into the state's constitution -- the first of about a dozen such similar measures to be voted upon this fall around the nation. WWP amigo and fellow blogger Chuck Currie reports by e-mail message:

Liz and I voted against Missouri’s constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Last week an interfaith rally against the measure was held on the campus of Eden Theological Seminary. If the polls are correct we’re fight a losing battle. Today Missouri may become one of the first states in the nation to amend their constitution to discrimination against gays and lesbians.

As Chuck indicates, polls are indicating the measure will be approved, making the Show Me State the first to adopt such a ban (not counting the 36 states with so-called "defense of marriage acts"). Nevertheless, as Law.com reports today, "groups on both sides of the debate expect the vote to be a litmus test for which campaign strategies work -- and which don't -- as the battle spreads to ballot boxes around the United States."

In Missouri, the measure's supporters portray marriage as "the cornerstone of society" that is now under attack. The opponents appear to be relying on these two messages: "Defend our constitution" and "discrimination is wrong."

If these campaign messages seem familiar to you, there's a reason. Well, two reasons, actually.

Things don't always look different in Oregon, do they?

Update: Though none of the Missouri media outlets has called the election thus far, at least on the Internet, the results seem clear [as b!X notes in a comment below]: As of 7:29 PDT, with 26 percent of the precincts reporting, the measure is passing with 376,233 yes votes to 155,371 no votes -- even worse than 2-to-1 margin that had been predicted. Query: Does the "defend the constitution" argument work? If not, what else will?

Comments

[The One True b!X]

As of now, the amendment is winning 69.8% to 30.2%.

See here for updated results.