While the Republican Party's religious conservatives continue to fight against same-sex marriage, its governors appear to be backing off their opposition -- in their rhetoric, at least.... "I don't think the Republican Party is fighting it," Wisconsin's Republican Gov. Scott Walker said of gay marriage. He spoke with The Associated Press during an interview this weekend at the National Governors Association in Nashville. "I'm not saying it's not important," continued Walker, who is considering a 2016 presidential bid should he survive his reelection test this fall. "But Republicans haven't been talking about this. We've been talking about economic and fiscal issues. It's those on the left that are pushing it."
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Saturday that the GOP shouldn't stop debating same-sex marriage, despite shifting national attitudes and a string of court decisions that have overturned gay marriage bans. "I don't think there's some referee who stands up and says, 'OK, now it's time for you to change your opinion,'" he told reporters at a gathering of the National Governors Association in Nashville. "The country will resolve this over a period of time. But do I think it's resolved? No." [...] The governor said the issue should be left to the states, noting that "an overwhelming majority of states currently still ban same-sex marriage."