WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democrats running for president are more supportive of GLBT rights than any previous primary ticket, but most are not quite pro-gay enough for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute.

The group issued a report that says most of the Democratic candidates do not fully support its political positions, instead adopting a stance consistent with U.S. public opinion polls.

“Most of these candidates are very much on safe ground on all of the positions they are taking on gay issues and aren’t risking a whole lot,” said Matt Foreman, the group’s executive director.

Former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun is the only candidate who supports all 11 of the group’s issues, including the right for gay couples to marry.

Gay marriage is the most divisive issue among the Democratic hopefuls. The only three who support it are long shots — Braun, Al Sharpton and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio.

Even Howard Dean, who is admired by many in the gay community because as Vermont governor he signed the nation’s only civil unions law, does not support gay marriage. He says it’s not necessary because civil unions give gay couples all the legal rights of married couples.

Dean ranked second in the report because he supports all the other issues promoted by the task force. The remaining candidates support from six to nine of the group’s issues, except Sen. Bob Graham of Florida, who did not respond to the group’s survey.

Graham is on record in support of four of the pro-gay measures — nondiscrimination for sexual orientation, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, extending the definition of hate crimes to include sexual orientation and extension of domestic partner benefits. A majority of Americans tend to support those measures, according to polls cited by the group.

Graham spokesperson Jamal Simmons said Graham supports equal opportunity and legal protection for gays and has a much stronger record than President Bush.

“I’m sure there will be some groups that differ with this position or that one,” Simmons said. “But you stack any one of us against George Bush and it’s a clear choice for that community.”

Foreman said gays have been a reliable Democratic voting bloc, but noted that a quarter of gays who voted in the 2000 election chose President Bush, up from the 14 percent who voted for his father in 1992.

“There is some percentage of the gay vote that is up for grabs and the Democrats shouldn’t take it for granted,” he said.