The tour did swing eastward to the battleground state of Pennsylvania where Cain not only appeared in Philadelphia but also in State College, home of Pennsylvania State University.
Analysts say that after oral arguments the bench appeared to be split evenly, with Justice Kennedy appearing to hold a swing vote on the case and the section of the law in question in jeopardy.
The Costco phenomenon was already in full swing in parts of the country, especially the West Coast, when my Forbes cover story appeared in summer 1997.
Justice Anthony Kennedy, seen as the swing vote between liberal and conservative justices, said he was "troubled" by how the law appeared to intrude on states' authority to define marriage as they saw fit.