“Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.’’ — Amendment 2

Saturday’s editions of The News-Press and news-press.com reported the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment is on the rocks.

This revelation comes four days before votes are tallied.

“I do’’ voters for Amendment 2 total 55 percent support — short of the 60 percent required — according to a Mason-Dixon poll of 625 likely voters.

Thirty-five percent oppose the gay marriage ban. Ten percent don’t know.

Undecideds will determine pass or fail.

Polls, of course, will be polls.

A week earlier, a St. Petersburg Times/Bay News 9/Miami Herald poll reported 59 percent of 800 likely voters want to amend the Florida Constitution.

Sixty-nine percent of black voters support the ban, which translates to passage if Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama drives huge black turnout, according to the St. Petersburg Times.

So, who do we believe?

We’ll find out Tuesday.

But for now, let’s see what Lee County says. I canvassed 15 early voters Wednesday at the Supervisor of Elections Office on the third floor of the Constitutional Complex in Fort Myers.

Seven voted no. Five voted yes. Three wouldn’t say.

Here is a sampling of six:

“I don’t agree with same-sex marriage,” says Winnette Austin of Fort Myers, 46. “I’m old school. I don’t feel what they are doing is right.’’

Cassandra Love, 50, of Fort Myers says 2 is No. 1 for her.

“I just want marriage to be a man and a woman,’’ she says. “That’s the only thing I’ve ever known. It was how I was brought up.’’

Colby Teel, 34, of Fort Myers says he sticks with the Bible.

“I’m a Christian. I don’t have anything against gays,’’ he says. “But a true marriage is between a man and a woman.’’

But three, young first-time voters offset the “yes’’ votes.

“I was raised to be accepting of everything,’’ says Trisha Tucker, 18, of North Fort Myers. “Just because it’s not my choice doesn’t mean it’s wrong.’’

Julie Ruhl, 18, of Sanibel, says if you love someone, gay or straight, that couple should not be denied a union.

Brian Dodd, 20, of Fort Myers says younger folks are raised to be more open-minded.

“I’m going to college — and equal rights are equal rights,’’ says Dodd, a Florida Gulf Coast University sophomore. “I voted against (the gay marriage ban).’’

If nothing else, the proposed amendment is redundant. Two state laws already prohibit same-sex marriage.

Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, says be leery of the intent of 2.

“If they really just wanted to focus on marriage as a union between one man and one woman, as they repeatedly claim, they would have put that language in Amendment 2,’’ he says. “Instead they have crafted a ban on anything that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof.

“This signals that, if they successfully con Florida voters on Amendment 2, health-care benefits are the next target.’’

Simon says passage will jeopardize health-insurance coverage and limit public and private flexibility in extending benefits to domestic partners — gay or straight.

Simon also says 60 state health-care professionals Friday urged Floridians to vote “no.’’

Dr. Charles Sowder of Bonita Springs says passing Amendment 2 would deny protections of domestic partnerships.

“As an emergency room doctor, I’ve seen committed couples irreparably harmed by being denied hospital visitation and other fundamental human rights and benefits that married couples take for granted,’’ says Sowder, one of the 60 pros.

Orlando attorney John Stemberger is state chairman of Florida4Marriage.org, which sponsored Amendment 2.

Stemberger says opponents of the amendment try to confuse the issue by talking about health care, domestic partnerships and benefits.

“They absolutely refuse to discuss the driving force behind why 27 states amended their state constitutions by overwhelming majorities,’’ Stemberger wrote Tuesday on Yes2Marriage.org. “(It is) to protect the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman.’’

I voted no. Two marriage laws are plenty. A third is anti-gay.