Rep. Mike Pence, chairman of the Republican Study Committee, just came down to brief the few straggling reporters still hanging out in the press room at the RSC retreat. He said that all three candidates for House majority leader gave good presentations today, and Pence (a Shadegg supporter) said he thinks some people changed their minds based on what they heard.

Heres the most interesting thing I heard Pence say. When I asked him, What are the top priorities for RSC members in this race? he named budget, marriage and ethics, in that order. It took me by surprise because the coverage of this race has focused on ethics and budget in that order and marriage hasnt even come up.

Every candidate today was confronted with a question of their position on the marriage amendment, Pence said. Timing of the marriage amendment. Legislative strategies for a marriage amendment& We are economic and social conservatives. He said that changing the way we spend the peoples money, standing up for the sanctity of marriage, and bringing sensible transparency and reform to the ethics of lobbying were the top three priorities of the RSC.