http://breakingnews.redstate.com/blogs/ ... et_a_boost

The New Jersey Supreme Court has rendered a ruling stating that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to the benefits of marriage. Whether those benefits are “marriage” or a parallel but identical structure is left to the democratic process.

The court determined that because there’s no substantial relationship related to a legitimate governmental purpose, a definition of marriage with certain benefits that excludes homosexual is forbidden. The state’s Domestic Partnership Act is not enough. The court refused to determine whether homosexuals were required to “marry,” but simply stated that they must at least have equal benefits as married couples. The court was unanimous in requiring the same "rights of marriage" to homosexual couples, but three justices in dissent thought that homosexual couples should also receive the "right to marry" and receive the title of marriage.

Because the Chief Justice of the court, Deborah T. Poritz, must retire tomorrow by law, the case is surely a final bang for her term, and gives the decision she’d like rather than risking a rehearing some time in the future. Her dissent insisted that homosexual couples should, in fact, have a right to the title of marriage.

But the Chief’s gift to New Jersey homosexuals is also an October surprise for conservatives. First, Republican Tom Kean, already locked in a close race with embattled Senator Bob Menendez, may experience a bump from slightly higher turnout from conservatives even though Kean opposes the Federal Marriage Amendment just like Menendez. Perhaps that bump won’t even be noticeable.

Second, and more importantly, conservatives are more likely to boil over and invigorate the base in Republican contests this year, not simply generally across the country, but in particular in eight states where marriage amendments are on the ballot: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Arizona and Wisconsin in particular have suffered some slump for support in the amendments, and their marriage amendments are now more likely to pass. Both tough GOP Senate races in Tennessee for Bob Corker and Virginia for George Allen will experience a lift. The Governor’s races in Arizona for Len Munsil and Wisconsin for Mark Green will get a boost. House races in Arizona and Colorado look more promising for the GOP.

October surprise? I guess it’s never a surprise when the New Jersey Supreme Court comes down with another shocking decision, and one that temporarily demoralizes those who defend traditional marriage. But if it yields a boost for the Republicans, well, the GOP could use some good news, albeit at the expense of the people of New Jersey.