Actually, I think this is a good issue to be discussing during the election. The reason it is a good issue to discuss, is we can use it to draw attention to the need for universal health care.

One reason why gays and lesbians want legal recognition of their relationships is because in the US, unlike in other civilized nations, health care isn't provided to all, and insurance benefits are not extended to all members of a committed partnership household unless the couple is married.

Give everyone the same benefits, as the Danes do for instance, and the gay marriage controversy disappears as an issue. Because the Danes pay high taxes to receive their universal benefits (among some other more complex social reasons), their marriage rate has dropped pretty low. There isn't any reason legally to be married if benefits are extended to everyone, and not tied to one's marital status or relationship to a married couple.