And this time it was done through the legislative branch. So this is a much more significant win for equal rights advocates because people can’t pin this on “activist” judges.

From WCAX:

The Vt. Senate voted to override the governor’s veto of the same-sex marriage bill. This morning, the Senate voted 23 to 5 to override that veto. Two senators were absent and Washington County Republican Bill Doyle who had initially supported same sex, this time voted to sustain the veto.

The Vt. House voted around 11 a.m. to override the veto. The vote was 100-49. 100 votes were needed. Rep. Sonny Audette of South Burlington did not vote. It wasn’t clear whether he intended to vote to override. Audette opposed gay marriage but also opposed the governor’s early announcement of a veto as “interference.”

Vermont is now the fourth state to permit same-sex marriage, but the first to do so with a legislature’s approval. Approval of gay marriage in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa came from the courts.

So, think this issue be front and center in 2012?

The state carries 3 electoral votes with it.

(CNN) — In what may be bad news for Clinton, Democrats across all four states overwhelmingly say they want super delegates to vote based on which candidate finishes ahead in the pledged delegate count at the end of the primary season.

Majorities of Democrats in Texas (62 percent), Ohio (61 percent), Rhode Island (57 percent) and Vermont (66 percent) all said the super delegates should cast their vote for the primary winner, not for who they think can best win in November.

The math simply does not work for Hillary on her road to the nomination, and the voters don’t favor her superdelegate strategy.

So what now?

Matt Seyfang points out that the number to watch in Vermont is 65 percent.

There are 10 “district” delegates allocated by the percentage of the vote in the state’s sole congressional district (aka “Vermont”), and for that group of 10, 65 percent is the break point between a 6-4 split (and a two-delegate margin) and a 7-3 split (and a four-delegate margin.)

I honestly don’t think Obama’s going to win by 30 points, so he may have to settle for a net delegate count of 3 from the state

McCain wins it big. Barack looks to win it by more than 20%. That could mean a 5 delegate pickup for the Obama camp tonight.

Fun fact: if Ohio and Texas stay close, his delegate lead in Vermont may wipe out an advantage Hillary picks up in Ohio or Texas.

Stay tuned!

I’m looking at the second wave of exit polls. They show an Obama blowout in Vermont, which was entirely expected and basically dead even in Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island, the latter two of which would be pretty substantial surprises.

But again, these are exit polls, and they haven’t been incredibly reliable this primary season.

Still, Josh is right…ties in Ohio and Rhode Island would be big surprises.

I’m not holding my breath…