Hmm: Pawlenty declines to sign marriage pledge

I'm not a big fan of pre-election "pledges," but I think it's generally notable news when a candidate refuses to sign onto a pledge the majority of his opposition already support. Likewise, Tim Pawlenty has backed away from the National Organization for Marriage's candidate pledge in favor of traditional marriage which Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney, and Rick Santorum have already signed onto.

Pawlenty spokesman Alex Conant says that the former Minnesota governor prefers to express his "commitment to the institution of marriage" using his own words rather than signing on to a pledge.

This wouldn't be an odd decision if Pawlenty felt this way about all pledges. But he's already signed on to some, including a pro-life pledge from Susan B. Anthony List.

“Pawlenty’s communications director Ann Marie Hauser, personally informed me on Tuesday that Tim Pawlenty would not sign NOM’s marriage pledge,” Maggie Gallagher, chairman of the board of NOM, told WSJ. “Like many people, we are scratching our heads wondering why Gov. Pawlenty, who has been a champion for marriage in Minnesota, would not commit to doing so for America.”

So, what gives? NRO's Katrina Trinko wonders:

One factor that may be at play: The Pawlenty campaign declined in July to sign a marriage pledge promoted by influential Iowa social conservative Bob Vander Plaats, making the faith video instead. So far, only Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum have signed the extensive pledge, which, in addition to asking the candidate to oppose gay marriage, also asks candidates to pledge to be faithful to their spouse and oppose Sharia Law. (There has also been controversy over a slavery mention in the pledge, although that language has since been removed.) The organization behind the pledge, which Vander Plaats is the CEO of, has said it will only endorse a candidate who signs the pledge. Looking at all the politics involved in this, it seems that the Pawlenty campaign — which is fighting hard in Iowa — may be afraid to sign NOM’s pledge after declining to sign Vander Plaats’.

One thing is for sure -- this unsigned pledge may play a role in further distinguishing Pawlenty from another former governor -- Mitt Romney.