A move by the court to issue what’s likely to be a definitive ruling on a federal constitutional right to same-sex marriage would surely vault the issue back onto the front pages.

“The grass roots would be outraged by the idea of a Roe v. Wade of same-sex marriage decisions,” said Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council.

The same state-by-state logic that favored President Barack Obama deferring executive actions on immigration until after the November election would also suggest that Democrats may wish to keep same-sex marriage off the radar screen until this fall’s contests are decided.

However, supporters of same-sex marriage say they don’t see the issue perking up in this fall’s campaigns — in part because it has been so dead but also because the winds of public opinion are blowing so clearly in the direction of allowing same-sex marriage.