When writing about your Senate campaign in Wisconsin, the press consistently refers to you as the “first out lesbian” elected to Congress. Are we to assume that Congress is full of closeted lesbians?

That’s never been the way I’ve construed it. I think it was written in a similar fashion when I was first running for the State Assembly back in 1992. So much attention was focused on whether the electorate was ready, whether this sort of history could be made.

When you were elected to Congress in 1998, there were many people in Madison — a very liberal college town — who were energized by the thought of sending a lesbian to Washington. But this election is statewide. There will be voters who think you’re going to hell because of whom you love. How do you deal with them?

This November, people in Wisconsin will be so focused on getting by. They’ve made serious adjustments to deal with this economy — whether it’s the recession or the decline of the middle class before then. I feel so strongly that that’s what’s going to be on people’s minds.

Recent polls suggest that gay marriage is less divisive these days. President Obama famously said his views on gay marriage were “evolving.” Would you respect his support on the issue if you thought it was based on an electoral calculation?

Look, he is moving in the right direction on this issue. He’s been crucial in equality efforts like the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and signing the Matthew Shepard hate crimes prevention act. I have no idea what goes on in another person’s mind. As a legislator, I need to be good at persuading people, counting votes and getting to 50 percent plus one. I don’t go back and say, “Why did this person get to the right position?” It’s only “Are you yes or are you no?”

Image Credit... Stephen Voss/Redux, for The New York Times

You grew up with your grandparents. Where was your mom?

She was 19 when I was born, and she was in the middle of a divorce and overwhelmed. My grandparents were there, and I’m very, very grateful. She needed their help.