| EARLIER ON THE FIX: Poll: Liberals, conservatives divided over perceived lean of Supreme Court Know who won't be watching the Supreme Court oral arguments on gay marriage? President Obama. Johnson's retirement turns attention to son and Herseth Sandlin Why the political fight on gay marriage is over — in 3 charts Mark Sanford's most important week Is support for gay marriage over-sold? The two flawed messengers of the gun debate How blocking Cabinet nominees became common practice 'The Daily Show' on political speeches (VIDEO) How Proposition 8 passed in California — and why it wouldn't today Lost amid today's Supreme Court oral arguments on California's Proposition 8 is a simple question: How did a gay marriage ban pass in one of the most liberal states in the country just four years ago? The answer is both fascinating and complex, and reveals just how much the Golden State (and the country) has evolved on the issue since the 2008 election. Let's start with the basics. Statewide, Prop. 8 was approved — the "yes" vote was in favor of eliminating same-sex marriage — 52.3 percent to 47.7 percent. That number is even more remarkable when you consider that President Obama won California with 61.1 percent of the vote on the same day. (Worth noting: Then candidate Obama opposed same-sex marriage.) All five of California's most populous counties — Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernadino and San Diego — voted in favor of Prop. 8 even as Obama was carrying four of the five in the presidential race. Los Angeles County — the state's most populous — is particularly interesting to look at. In LA County, Prop. 8 won a narrow majority of 50.1 percent. But, President Obama carried the county with a whopping 69 percent. The discrepancy? African American voters, who were overwhelmingly in favor of banning same sex marriage (70 percent supported Proposition 8) even as they supported Obama even more heavily (94 percent). And, to a lesser degree, Hispanic voters followed that same trend — backing Prop. 8 by a 53 percent to 47 percent margin while giving President Obama 74 percent. The explanation? Many largely black churches supported Prop. 8 while Hispanics, a heavily Catholic community, were more naturally inclined to side with their faith — and against gay marriage. Demographics weren't the only reason for Prop. 8′s success, argued Rob Stutzman, a California-based Republican strategist. "The better campaign won," he said. "The 'yes' side exploited Newsom's 'like it or not' arrogance and additionally zeroed in on skepticism voters had for what it could mean for children." (Then San Francisco mayor — and now California Lt. Governor — Gavin Newsom enraged many supporters of traditional marriage when following a federal court ruling that overturned Prop. 8 he insisted that gay marriage's time has come "whether you like it or not.") Garry South, a longtime Democratic strategist in California, largely agreed with Stutzman's analysis. "The 'No on 8′ campaign had plenty of money ($40 million plus) — actually outspent the yes side," said South. "But it was essentially run by a committee of community activists who didn't trust any non-gay professionals and wouldn't take advice from more experienced campaign strategists on the outside who know what they're doing." Regardless of how Prop. 8 passed, it's clear from a look at current polling in the state that such a measure would meet a very different fate in 2013 than it did in 2008. Looking at Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) polling data, it's clear that shortly after Prop. 8 passed, sentiment about gay marriage began to change. In October 2008, 50 percent opposed gay marriage. By May 2012, 54 percent of Californians supported same-sex marriage. 
Stutzman, the GOP strategist, is candid about how California has changed since 2008. "Four years later I don't believe [Prop. 8] would pass again," he acknowledged. Johnson set to announce retirement: Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) is set to announce today that he won't seek reelection in 2014. The senator's decision isn't a surprise, and it will draw increased attention to two Democrats: U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson, who has been viewed by party strategists as a potential candidate, and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, the former congresswoman who was unseated in the 2010 GOP wave election. Like Johnson, Herseth Sandlin comes from a well-known South Dakota political family. Fixbits: Supreme Court Justice John Roberts's lesbian cousin will attend today's Prop. 8 hearing. Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) announced that they support gay marriage. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) faces a congressional ethics probe. Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe (D) vetoed a voter ID measure. Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) pushed back against New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I), tweeting: "I don't take gun advice from the Mayor of NYC. I listen to Arkansans." Obama marked the beginning of Passover with a private Seder. Newt Gingrich is launching a new effort to retire his campaign debt. Elizabeth Colbert Busch's spokeswoman called the timing of Vice President Biden's upcoming visit to South Carolina "coincidental." Must-reads: "Vitter's efforts in the Senate outlast the shadow of his scandal" — Paul Kane, Washington Post "Murray, Ryan face new mission impossible on the budget" — Erik Wasson, The Hill | 
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