We like this Associated Press headline for reminding readers about where the current statewide marriage-vote tally stands, even as the AP is of course eager to hope for a 1st victory for our opponents this November:

"...Dating back to 1998, 32 states have held votes on same-sex marriage, and all 32 have opposed it. Maryland is one of four states with Nov. 6 referendums on the issue — and gay-marriage advocates believe there's a strong chance the streak will be broken. 

In Maryland, Maine and Washington, it's an up-or-down vote on legalizing same-sex marriage. In Minnesota, there's a measure to place a ban on gay marriage in the state constitution, as 30 other states have done previously.

Groups supporting same-sex marriage, which has been legalized by court rulings or legislative votes in six states and the District of Columbia, are donating millions of dollars to the four campaigns.

They're hoping for at least one victory to deprive their foes of the potent argument that gay marriage has never prevailed at the ballot box.

... Opponents of gay marriage expect to be outspent in the four states, perhaps by more than 2-to-1 overall, yet they remain hopeful their winning streak can be preserved.

"We definitely can win all four if we can increase the fundraising," said Brian Brown of the National Organization for Marriage, which has pumped more than $2 million into the campaigns against gay marriage. Its TV advertising is just beginning, including in the expensive markets that reach Marylanders in the Washington, D.C., suburbs.

"We do have a big hill to climb to be able to effectively communicate our message," Brown said. "But we don't need to match the other side — we win repeatedly while being outspent."

Speaking of which, have you visited Stand for Marriage America yet?