Political experts called the president’s decision to publicly support same-sex marriage a strategic one to prevent the issue from overshadowing his re-election campaign.

However, the move may mean a floor fight during the Democratic National Convention in September.

“The potential for a floor fight is something we have not seen at a national convention in a very long time,” said political expert and college professor Dr. Michael Bitzer.

He said the passing of Amendment One could divide Southern conservative Democrats and West Coast delegates on the floor at Time Warner Arena.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how (President Barack) Obama can thread the needle to make sure this issue doesn’t turn one side or the other off in his coalition,” Bitzer said.

Democrats on both sides Wednesday played down the tension over the marriage amendment.

Dr. Dwayne Walker with the Little Rock AME Zion Church is against gay marriage, but also against Amendment One.

“I hope it does not divide. I think in every party and in every body of people, some will not always agree on every single issue,” he said.

Concetta Caliendo, vice president of the Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgendered Democrats of North Carolina, said the Republicans were also divided on the amendment.

“I do think this issue went past all racial and party lines. We were all working together,” Caliendo said.

Obama's public announcement of support for gay marriage is being met with a lot of surprise by religious leaders in North Carolina, who spent weeks campaigning for the passage of the marriage amendment. 

"I think, if anything, his decision today just shows a cultural divide that is extremely concerning," said Rev. Mark Harris of First Baptist Church in Charlotte. 

Harris said Obama's views clearly do not resonate with viewers in North Carolina, who voted by an overwhleming 61 percent to pass the amendment defininf marriage as a union between only one man and one woman. 

"I think the influence of this president on this issue has not demonstrated to be that strong in North Carolina or anywhere else," said Harris. 

But now, Obama has made support for same-sex marriage part of his platform for a convention in a state that just voted to define marriage as only between a man and a woman.

The irony has already attracted some attention and will likely continue into September.

Already, a petition has been filed to move the convention out of Charlotte.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney spoke out about an hour after Obama’s statement, reaffirming his stance that marriage should be between a man and a woman.

The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina on Wednesday officially opposed the new amendment, calling it discriminatory.

One thing is clear: The issue is dividing the nation. So far, 30 states have defined marriage as being between one man and one woman. The states are mostly in the South and Midwest.

Iowa, Washington and several states in the northeast allow same-sex marriages. A few other states recognize civil unions and domestic partnerships.

As pundits and experts examine Obama’s statement and timing, many are starting to wonder if the announcement would have changed Tuesday night’s vote in North Carolina if it had been given earlier.