Unless you want to be closeted (ie marry a woman), the fact that you're gay, live with a partner, and have a kid is going to be an issue if you run for office in this hypothetical situation.

If you live in a Republican-leaning district, the right-wing of that party is going to jump all over the fact that the opposing candidate is gay, and they're going to do everything they can (more than likely not directly - they'll let supporters who are vigorously anti-gay take the lead) to use your sexuality and home life to motivate their voters against you. It's all part of winning an election.

The key to minimizing the impact on your campaign would be to have a strategy in dealing with that when it comes up in the campaign. That strategy would be based on your district, what kind of voters you have there, and what they care about. An effective strategy will nullify their efforts to make it an issue. An example would be that when they send out an attack mailer to their constituents you respond by expressing confusion as to why your partner and child are more important than dealing with the real issue of how the state is going to help repair that high school in your district where the roof currently leaks every time it rains.

You're never going to get the religious right-vote when you're openly gay. On the other hand, you might not need them to win (again depending on your district). A good moderate approach, controlling the discussion/arguments in the campaign to your strong points, and forcing your opponent to react to your campaign can catapult you into office.

Now, if you're serious about wanting to run for office, you better be ready to press a lot of flesh (as in handshakes), and raise a lot of money. How much cash you have in the bank (from your pocket and from the pockets of others) is going to really determine if you have a chance in hell of winning. A good consultant and a good pile of cash in the bank will be more important in the long run than the fact that you're openly gay.

(and that's it for the free advice - don't ever mention to the boss I gave any)

This is why we get Dan Quayle's and George W Bush's: dim, low-brow breeders who aren't smart enough to do anything scandalous and are lead around by backroom power brokers.

Considering the media protological examination that goes with running for office, who else would want the job?

I dont know how it is in the States, but I can only talk about the experiences in my Country. As a candidate to a political office, gay or not, you have to resolve the same problem : how to convince the voters that you and nobody else are the best qualified man for the office ? For that challenge, you need :

- a lot of real friends,

- the support of the media people (that means that you are "radiogenic" and "photogenic", in one word "a nice guy"),

- to be appreciated in your party (that means that you have begun in the party by doing all the small duties that nowbody wants to do)

- some money to pay the posters and the bills (thats not the most important point here like in the States),

- to be a good talker and writer and to be capable to express yourself clearly, promptly and with humour,

- to be able to spend a huge lot of time with people you suppose they can help you to get your goal, even if you dont like them.

- to stay cool and never get angry even when somebody attacks you.

- to more, to be persevering and steady, ready to wait long enough till the right opportunity happens.

If you are positive on all these points, you will success. To be gay is here a private matter, you can talk about it or not. Its the same with your religion, Nobody will ask you about it . The fact that you belong to a religious party or to an extreme "liberal party" is more important that your belief or behaviour.

I suppose you will say : happy country !

I do also !

Old Bob