Same-sex marriage advocates put together a massive campaign war chest. They galvanized 8,000 volunteers, including hundreds from out-of-state. And they pounded the pavement, the airwaves and the blogosphere with a message of fairness and equality for all. But it was a message that did not resonate with a majority of Maine voters.

And that was a profound disappointment for a crowd of about 2,000 who showed up at a hoped-for victory party in a Portland hotel ballroom, complete with live band and a three-tiered wedding cake adorned with two brides, two grooms and the slogan: "We all do."

"Every vote counts, and I promise you we will not quit until we know where every single one of these votes lives," campaign manager Jesse Connolly told supporters. But just two hours later, Connolly of Protect Maine Equality conceded defeat in a short written statement.

Connolly has always maintained that same-sex marriage opponents deceived voters into thinking gay marriage and gay sex would be advocated and taught to students in public schools, even though Maine's attorney general and education commissioner said there was nothing in the law that related to school curricula.

"And we'll keep counting, because while we understand that some people are still torn about this issue, we've got something to say to our opponents who would demean or attack our schools and our families. It has to stop. It must stop. And when this is over, it will finally stop in the state of Maine," Connolly said.

"We prevailed because the people of Maine, the silent majority, the folks back home, spoke with their vote tonight," said Marc Mutty, campaign chair of Stand for Marriage Maine. "And let's be clear: What the people of Maine had to say was that marriage matters, and it's between a man and a woman. And this has never been about hating anyone, hating gays or anything, this has been about marriage and only about marriage -- and preserving it."

For 14-year-old Sam Putnam and his family, the campaign for marriage equality has been a personal and gratifying one no matter what the outcome. Putnam was thrust into the spotlight last spring when he chose to testify on behalf of his two moms at a public hearing. His testimony was put on You Tube and before Putnam knew it, he was being asked to appear in a television advertisement and his classmates and teachers at Portland High School were offering their support.

"I talked about how I'm an average teenager, which I am," Putnam says. "I play sports for my school. I have a lot of friends. I'm an honor student. I participate in the community as much as I can and no matter what happens tonight, it's not going to change me as a person at all. It's just going to change the way my family is being seen."

Putnam will have to wait a while longer for his two moms to be recognized the way he'd like. But Maine Governor John Baldacci says that day is coming. "We may not get there as soon as I'd like to get there, but we're going to get there because that's the future."

Gay marriage opponents see their victory in Maine as a sign that the institution of marriage cannot be undermined. Of the five states that have legalized same-sex marraige, four are in New England. More than 30 states have now rejected same sex marriage by referendum. In his concession statement, Jesse Connolly of Protect Maine Equality says activists are in the fight for the long haul, until all Maine families are treated equally.