If the Supreme Court strikes down bans on homosexual marriage, Portman may have increased his VP chances. Unlike abortion, Supreme Court action would likely depoliticize the issue, so those who expressed support before the Court acts would not suffer major ostracism. While it would be enough to scuttle any chance of being the GOP's nominee in 2016, it would make him a possible VP choice for someone who is looking for a running mate to help with appealing to the middle as an example that not all Republicans are scary intolerant fanatics.
I disagree with the bolded part Ernest. If the SC rules that banning same-sex marriage is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause, there will be a long, drawn out set of political battles about exactly what such a ruling would require. Issues such
as those discussed in this thread will pop up continuously and the argument will be forever rehashed in the details. It will be quite different from abortion, however, in that there won't be a real attempt to overturn it by one of the two main parties. I'm not sure sure this issue will just disappear like that, although if it did that would be wonderful for the Republicans. I hope you're right though.
If Portman is primaried over this, it seems unlikely that his opponent will be credible. I doubt anyone in the Ohio GOP can make a real argument that Portman hasn't been a good senator or that they could be a better one (unless 80-year-old George Voinovich runs against him or something totally unforseen).
