California's same-sex marriage foes opted for a slower path to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, asking a federal appeals court to reconsider its Feb. 7 ruling that the state's ban on same-sex unions is unconstitutional.

The move gives opponents a long-shot chance to reverse their legal losses before taking their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. But it also increases the likelihood that the case will stretch into 2013, well past the presidential election.