CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – If phones really could ring off the hook, Gov. John Lynch’s would look like a jumping bean. Since last week, when the state Senate approved a gay marriage proposal, both sides have mobilized, inundating his office with calls, e-mails, letters and postcards.

Lynch says he believes marriage is a word that should be reserved for the union of a man and a woman but has not said he would veto a gay marriage bill if it reaches his desk. There is no shortage of guidance.

“We have received over 2,000 phone calls since the Senate passed the bill,” spokesman Colin Manning said on Tuesday, as calls and voice-mails continued pouring in.

Add more than 2,000 e-mails and “at least hundreds” pieces of mail, including preprinted post cards, he said.

The proposal would allow gay marriage but makes a distinction between religious and civil ceremonies. On Tuesday, a House committee recommended the House approve it when it comes up for a vote Wednesday.

“I still believe the fundamental issue is about providing the same rights and protections to same-sex couples as are available to heterosexual couples,” Lynch said after the Senate vote. “This was accomplished through the passage of the civil unions law two years ago. To achieve further real progress, the federal government would need to take action to recognize New Hampshire civil unions.”

The New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition is mobilizing support for the bill.

“URGENT,” its Web site announces in red capital letters. “CALL GOVERNOR LYNCH. … TELL HIM TO SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALITY.”

The group has collected petition signatures in communities including Portsmouth, Keene, Concord, Hanover, Manchester and Nashua and planned to make calls from a phone bank Tuesday evening.

On the other side, the New Jersey-based National Organization for Marriage is taking up the cause, also in red ink.

“E-mail New Hampshire Governor John Lynch,” its Web site says, and provides a message that can be sent directly from the site. It also urges phone calls.

“Ask Governor Lynch to make good on his promise to voters that he opposes same-sex marriage by vetoing HB436,” the group says. “Time is short! Do it right now!”

The group also is running radio and television ads.

Manning said some other issues or incidents have prompted a comparable number of calls to the governor’s office, including the December ice storm that knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of residents and the case of Ed and Elaine Brown, who holed up in their New Hampshire home for nine months after being convicted of federal tax evasion.

Manning said the messages will be tallied for Lynch before he has to decide.

“He’ll know how many people have contacted the office and what the general sentiment has been,” Manning said.