(Image Source: New Jersey Governor's Office) 

BY VICTORIA CRAIG

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New Jersey’s Republican governor Chris Christie made a surprise announcement on gay marriage Tuesday, disappointing many of his Democratic supporters. Fox Business explains what’s at the heart of the issue.

“Says he’d veto any bill that would legalize gay marriage. He wants to put it to the voters. Here’s what he said, ‘Let’s let the people of New Jersey decide what’s right for the state. Let’s put the question of same sex marriage on the ballot this fall, in the hands of the people -- the time when the most people will be voting.’”

On Tuesday, a New Jersey judiciary committee voted 8-4 to allow a bill that would legalize gay marriage in the state. Philadelphia’s KYW explains why Democrats believe the issue is a constitutional right that lawmakers should implement -- quoting the state Senate president, a Democrat.

“Sweeny says this is a civil rights issue, one that should be handled by lawmakers, not the voters of New Jersey. He says the last civil rights issue put to New Jersey voters, giving women the right to vote, failed in 1915.”

Critics accuse Christie of punting on a political issue that’s not popular or favored by the governor’s party. A political analyst for New York’s WNYW explains.

“He doesn’t want it on his desk. So what does he do? He trumps them, he gets ahead of them, and he says, ‘Look, let the voters decide. It’s too important for me or the president of the senate or the legislature. Let the people decide.”

So, why would a Republican governor who opposes gay marriage be willing to put the issue up for a vote in a state likely to support it? One pollster tells New York’s WCBS -- the decision comes down to politics.

“There’s some consideration of him as a vice-presidential candidate. He may be thinking down the road to his own reelection in 2013. I think there’s a lot of political calculations as to whether he wants to make this a defining moment of his administration."

But, the governor might face an uphill battle for putting the issue up for a referendum. As the New York Times reports, many in the state will side with the Garden State’s Democrat lawmakers.

“A poll released by Quinnipiac University last week found that 52 percent of New Jersey voters believed that same-sex couples should have the right to marry, and 53 percent believed that denying them that right constituted discrimination.”

For Christie to be successful in getting the referendum on the ballot in November, he would need support from three-fifths of the state’s legislature.Democrats say they have the votes they need to pass the marriage equality bill and likely overturn a gubernatorial veto.