GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES CLASH OVER COURT RULING

And, within hours, the rhetoric from the Democratic candidates for governor began.

The Georgia Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case on June 27, creating the possibility that the court could rule in time to avert a summertime special session of the state Legislature.

Gov. Sonny Perdue has said that if the court fails to rule on the issue by Aug. 7 he will call the state`s lawmakers back to the Capitol to push through another measure that can be placed before voters on the November election ballot.

Seventy-six percent of voters in 2004 approved the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages.

The Superior Court judge`s ruling earlier this month striking down the ban has ignited a political firestorm in the Democratic race for the governor.

Secretary of State Cathy Cox angered gay supporters when earlier this month she said she supported the constitutional ban and endorsed calls for a special session to address the issue if the courts failed to act.

Over the weekend, however, she called plans for a possible special session a cynical ploy to get conservative voters to the polls.

Supporters of Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, her rival for the Democratic nomination, on Tuesday accused Cox of tailoring her comments.

The two Democrats clash in the July 18 primary. The winner likely will face Perdue in the general election.