Sen. Shirley Turner (D., Mercer), who opposes the legislation, said it was as many as eight votes short in the Senate with about a month to go before the session ends and Gov.-elect Christopher J. Christie, a same-sex marriage opponent, takes office.

"I can't see how you change that many opinions over this short period of time," Turner said on a day that was supposed to include a crucial Senate vote on allowing gay and lesbian couples to wed.
