Prop 8 Foes Back Off 2010 Push

California’s gay community may want to go straight back to the polls to have another run at Proposition 8, but top advocacy groups and donors aren’t on board, the New York Times reports. “The only thing worse than losing in 2008 would be to lose again in 2010,” explains one donor. While many expected Prop 8 anger to power a new campaign, polls haven’t moved at all since November.

Big backers don't want to invest in a campaign that might be what one group called “rushed and risky.” More than $80 million was spent to pass Proposition 8, and $43 million to oppose it, the Times says. “The money will come if you can show you can win,” says one organizer. Others fear that without a decisive victory of around 60%, gay marriage opponents would just launch another assault. Still, grassroots groups and younger activists are primed for a 2010 fight. “I find the language of some of the organizations really self-defeating,” says the head of one group. “We have a moral obligation to overturn this.” (More gay marriage stories.)