A trial balloon in advance of President Obama changing his public position on marriage? Or an attempt by the administration to placate pro-SSM activists and donors?

Vice President Joe Biden stopped short on Sunday of pledging to legalize gay marriage should President Obama win a second term.

“That’s what I believe. I am vice president of the United States of America, the president sets the policy,” he said on NBC's Meet the Press. “I am absolutely comfortable with men marrying men, women marrying women.”

The White House told reporters on Sunday that that Biden's comments are not a shift from the administration's official policy. But gay rights groups, like the Human Rights Campaign, seized on the opportunity to call on President Obama to take decisive action to support same-sex marriage.

"We are encouraged by Vice President Biden's comments, who rightly articulated that loving and committed gay and lesbian couples should be treated equally," HRC President Joe Solmonese said in a statement. "Now is the time for President Obama to speak out for full marriage equality for same-sex couples." -- National Journal