Constitutional convention on gay marriage deferred

The Massachusetts Legislature enters into constitutional convention today to debate a ballot initiative on banning gay marriage, but the whole affair is likely to be delayed until at least July due to a pending Supreme Judicial Court decision on the certification of the petition that got the whole thing started. Oh, and also due to the fact that local politicians are loathe to stick their necks out on this one. For them, today is like having that college exam you never studied for cancelled at the last minute.

For ballot proponents, this has got to be a disappointment: every day that the sky doesn't fall on Massachusetts means a few more votes slipping away from their side.