UPDATE @ 5:24 PM: The magic number is down to one. Another Maryland Senator is on board:

Sen. Katherine Klausmeier said today that she has decided to vote in favor of same-sex marriage, putting the measure within a breath of passage in the Senate.

“I just weighed all of the options,” said the Baltimore County Democrat, who earlier told The Sun that she was torn about the issue. “It’s about fairness.”

It is about fairness. This sure feels like momentum.
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Some good news today in Maryland, via the Maryland Politics blog at the Baltimore Sun:

Sen. Edward Kasemeyer said this afternoon that he will support the controversial same-sex marriage bill, giving the measure 22 of the 24 votes it would need to clear the senate.

Kasemeyer, a Democrat who represents Howard and Baltimore counties, had not previously said how he planned to vote on the bill. Many had believed he would not support it because he represents a conservative area.

His pledge means there are five senators who either have not decided how they will vote or have declined to share their position publicly. (See full vote list after the jump. [posted below])

This year changes in a key senate panel delivered advocates the best chance they’ve ever had to legalize same-sex marriage. They believe that they have the 29 votes needed to cut off debate in the chamber and vote. The bill is expected to be voted out of committee this Thursday.

So, Senate Committee vote this week, then a floor vote in the full Senate next week. There’s intense lobbying underway at the State House in Annapolis. Equality Maryland is holding a lobby day this evening. If you live in Maryland, make your calls.

Here’s the UPDATED list of Senators the Baltimore Sun considers undecided:

No public position/Undecided

Sen. John Astle, Anne Arundel County Democrat
Sen. James Brochin, Baltimore County Democrat (supports)
Sen. Joan Carter Conway, Baltimore Democrat
Sen. Ulysses Currie, Prince George’s County Democrat
Sen. Edward Kasemeyer, Baltimore and Howard counties Democrat (supports)
Sen. Katherine Klausmeier, Baltimore County Democrat
Sen. James Rosapepe, Prince George’s County Democrat

Also, the Senate President, Mike Miller (D) is a NO vote.



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