Biden: I Am 'Absolutely Comfortable' With Same-Sex Marriage

Vice President Joe Biden said Sunday he's "absolutely comfortable" with same-sex marriage, making him the highest Obama administration official to indicate support for the issue.

President Barack Obama remains formally opposed to same-sex marriage, though his position has been said to be "evolving." On NBC's "Meet the Press," host David Gregory asked Biden about his own views.

"And you're comfortable with same-sex marriage now?" Gregory asked.

"I am vice president of the United States of America," Biden said. "The president sets the policy. I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties. And quite frankly, I don't see much of a distinction beyond that."

He said he "can't speak for" the administration coming out in support of same-sex marriage, but said Obama has been a champion for gay rights.

"The president continues to fight, whether it's Don't Ask, Don't Tell or whether it is making sure across the board that you cannot discriminate," Biden said.

He said his measure of an issue is when the "social culture" begins to embrace it.

"I think 'Will and Grace' probably did more to educate the American public than almost anything anyone's ever done so far," Biden said, referring to the NBC sitcom that ended in 2006. "People fear that which is different. Now they're beginning to understand."

NBC's Chuck Todd said Biden's office told him "he was speaking for his own evolving on marriage not for the admin[istration]."

Watch below, via NBC: