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Updated 06/03/2011 06:00 AM

Push for marriage equality

By: Nick Reisman

The issue of gay marriage isn't going away any time soon in New York State as Governor Cuomo works to convince undecided lawmakers to vote yes on a bill. An Albany restaurant owner tried a unique approach in hopes of influencing his senator's final decision. Capital Tonight's Nick Reisman has more.

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ALBANY, N.Y. -- As the state legislature heads into the final stretch of the regular session, lawmakers are bracing to be hit with a barrage of lobbying, ads and constituent phone calls for and against same-sex marriage.

"Advocates on both sides are pretty active. They've been lobbying pretty hard. As I've said all along, the gay marriage issue will heat up in about a week or so. It will become evident if the Democrats have enough votes," said Deputy Senate Majority leader Tom Libous.

Also applying pressure is Governor Andrew Cuomo. He met with Senate Republicans who say their on fence including Senator Roy McDonald of Saratoga Thursday and Senator Jim Alesi of Monroe County earlier this week. Alesi, who claims he's made up his mind on the issue but won't say how he plans to vote, had requested a meeting with the governor earlier this month.

"Yes, I've met with the governor. And I think that when the time is at hand, if it comes, then you'll know how I'll be voting," Alesi said.

As for McDonald, an Albany restaurant owner took out billboard space on Interstate-787 this week asking that McDonald, a no vote in 2009, support the bill this time around. McDonald declined to go on camera to discuss the issue, but said he remained firmly undecided.

Meanwhile, another senator who said he was undecided on the issue moved to the no camp on Thursday. Senator Kemp Hannon is reportedly planning to vote no. That leaves just seven undecided votes in our YNN tally. Meanwhile, other undecided legislators like Senator Greg Ball say they'll keep listening to residents back home.

"I have my ear to the ground in my community to listen to what my constituents care about and we're hearing from both sides and the response from both sides has been pretty overwhelming," said Ball.

Cuomo has made the passage of same-sex marriage a major part of his post-budget agenda. While the bill only needs 32 votes to pass, insiders say more votes are necessary in order to protect Senators from casting the deciding vote. It is more likely that at least five Republicans would need to join with 29 Democrats to approve the measure. The governor has said he would not introduce a bill unless he's sure the votes are available.

To view our interactive map, visit the State of Politics blog.