This is truly great news.  It’s about freaking time:

ABC News’ David Chalian Reports:  Gov. John Lynch, D-N.H., announced today that he intends to sign a bill establishing legal civil unions for same sex couples in the key first-in-the-nation primary state.

Since most of the Democratic candidates running for president support civil unions for gay couples, Gov. Lynch’s move provides an easy applause line for those candidates speaking in front of Democratic crowds in the Granite State.

It will be far more interesting to watch the Republican presidential hopefuls react to what will soon be the law of the land in New Hampshire.  Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has expressed support for civil unions in the past.  Mitt Romney is opposed to them except when they are the only alternative to same-sex marriage.

And  on November 19, 2006 when ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos asked Sen. John McCain if he was for civil unions, he said he believes that people ought to be able to “enter into contracts and exchange “powers of attorney.”

Perhaps providing clues as to how some Republican candidates may respond, the Associated Press reports that New Hampshire State Republican Party Chairman Fergus Cullen responded to Lynch’s announcement thusly, “The Democrats are going too far, too fast and Governor Lynch is going along with them,” he said. “These are not the actions of a moderate governor.”