Same-sex marriage opponents debut first TV ads

Minnesota for Marriage ad
A screen grab from a new Minnesota for Marriage television ad.
Minnesota for Marriage

The group backing a marriage amendment on the November ballot began running its first two television ads Monday.

Minnesota for Marriage supports amending the state constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman, effectively banning same-sex marriage. Spokesman Chuck Darrell says the group will spend about $750,000 to air the two ads around the state through October.

"What the election really comes down to is this — Who should decide the definition of marriage in Minnesota?" Darrell said in a statement. "We believe it should be you — the voters."

On the other side, Minnesotans United for All Families has been running television ads the last two weeks.

"We all agree that marriage is important, which is why we wouldn't want to deny this basic freedom to any loving, committed couple," Minnesotans United for All Families campaign manager Richard Carlbom said in a statement.