Obama’s Vague Gay Marriage Stance Under Scrutiny

President Barack Obama's vague stance on gay marriage is facing fresh scrutiny. A prominent Cabinet official has broken ranks with the White House, stating his unequivocal support for same-sex marriage.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan's comments came one day after Vice President Joe Biden suggested he supported gay marriage, too.

Obama aides insisted the statements were not part of a coordinated effort to lay groundwork for a shift in the president's position. Obama has stopped short of backing gay marriage, saying his views are "evolving."

The White House kept to that position Monday. But with Biden and Duncan's comments reinvigorating the debate, the pressure on Obama to clarify his views ahead of the November election seems certain to increase.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)