Politics

 Gay rights at the forefront the past several days as Senator Rob Portman announced he was no longer opposed to gay marriage and several Cincinnati Council members decided to boycott the Saint Patrick's Day Parade when a Gay rights group was not allowed to participate.  WVXU political reporter Howard Wilkinson talks with Maryanne Zeleznik about what it all means politically. 

As Democrats from across the state gathered in Columbus for their annual Legacy Dinner, they were still absorbing the news that Youngstown area Congressman Tim Ryan will not be running for governor next year.

Among the disappointed was state Rep. Bob Hagan.

“I think he could have won," he said. "I think it’s going to be a tough campaign – we needed someone that can shout and can scream and get people up on their feet and I think he can do that. On the other hand, I’m disappointed because, in a selfish way, I was going to run for Congress myself in his seat.”

CNN is reporting Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio now supports gay marriage.  Portman says he's had a change of heart since learning one of his sons is gay.  See the story here. 

In an editorial in the Columbus Dispatch, Portman writes: