BY MATT WICKENHEISER

Portland Press Herald

Supporters of same-sex marriage will hold a fundraiser in Portland on Wednesday featuring Gov. John Baldacci.

The governor, who signed Maine's same-sex marriage law less than an hour after it was presented to him in May, will be the "guest of honor" at the event, said Mark Sullivan, spokesman for the No on 1 campaign.

The legalization of same-sex marriage is the target of a campaign that seeks to have voters overturn the legislation passed this spring.

Baldacci and a majority of lawmakers supported the law. For the most part, lawmakers haven't been active in the subsequent campaign -- on either side.

It's not unusual for top politicians to take part in such campaign events, but Baldacci's appearance could signal a ramping-up as fall begins and Election Day nears.

Tickets for Wednesday's event, to be held at a home in the West End, cost $100. There's also a $250 "friend" level, a $500 "host" level and a $1,000 "sponsor" level.

Sullivan said this will be one of "scores of fundraisers" around the state.

"Raising money is a key part of any campaign," said Ted O'Meara, head of Ted O'Meara Communications, a public affairs and communications consulting firm. His firm is not involved in the gay-marriage campaign.

"When you can take advantage of someone who has good name recognition, who people would want to come and see -- that's pretty much a staple of any campaign," O'Meara said.

Baldacci's spokesman, David Farmer, said Monday that the governor supported the legislation, signed it and wants to be involved in the campaign to preserve it. "He thinks that, ultimately, this comes down to people being treated fairly."

The No on 1 Web site says lawmakers will attend, as well. Sullivan said he didn't have the names of people who will be there. Farmer said he has heard that Sen. Dennis Damon, D-Trenton, who sponsored the legislation, will attend.

Other lawmakers have been helping with the campaign, Sullivan said, including Sen. Philip Bartlett, D-Gorham, and Rep. Linda Sanborn, D-Gorham, who have helped on the phones.

Sarah Standiford, executive director of the Maine Women's Lobby, one of the groups that organized and support the gay-marriage initiative, said Baldacci's involvement indicates "that this is of critical importance, and that Maine people and Maine lawmakers stood behind gay and lesbian citizens and will continue to do so."

The fact that Baldacci and other politicians are getting involved is "not terribly unusual or surprising," said Marc Mutty, chairman of Stand for Marriage Maine's executive committee. Stand for Marriage Maine is the main group pushing for the people's veto.

Mutty said Democrats are using support of gay marriage as a litmus test "to be a good Democrat these days."

What he finds interesting, Mutty said, is Baldacci's support of same-sex marriage.

"The governor has had such a strong conversion, so quickly," said Mutty. "He told us he agonized over this decision and it was difficult for him to come to this place. Now he's in a position to be participating in fundraising. That's a huge, giant step for the governor in a short amount of time."

Ron Schmidt, a political scientist at the University of Southern Maine, suggested that this fundraiser may signal "a large political mobilization."

There may be more political organization, more activism and more chance that national figures will show up to fight or support gay marriage here, he said.

"I'm not sure you'll see big names from out of state coming in," O'Meara said, "but to the extent either side can find well-known people, it will be interesting to see if either side brings in national people."