Democrat, Republican Find Marriage Success

How do political opposites survive under the same roof in an election year?

Just like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver and James Carville and Mary Matalin, Dan and Dawn Kahle are a political odd couple.

Dawn Kahle, a Democrat, is backing Sen. Barack Obama in this year's presidential election. But her husband, Dan, is firmly in Sen. John McCain's camp.

"Sometimes I can't believe I married this man," Dawn Kahle said.

Their debates get just as heated as the ones between the candidates.

"Voices do get raised," Dawn Kahle said.

Dan Kahle said the couple calls it off for the evening when things get too heated.

Relationship expert Pepper Schwartz analyzed the couple using the duet personality test she developed for Perfectmatch.com.

They're both dominant personalities, and probably in other things, they just meet toe-to-toe and they like that interest," Schwartz said.

"I think what I find interesting about Dan is that he does have different views and different opinions," Dawn Kahle said.

Schwartz said problems can develop if couples engage in behaviors such as "contemptuous eye-rolling, clucking, sneering (and) nasty remarks about, 'Oh you would think that.'"

Dan and Dawn Kahle said they don't let their political differences get that far. Instead, they focus on matters that are really important, such as their children.

"I think we have the same goals for our family," Dan Kahle said.

Schwartz said the Kahles are taking the right approach.

"It is a talented couple that says, 'You know, I'm for Obama, I'm for McCain, but I'm more for you than for those people, and I'm going to back off,'" she said.

Schwartz said the couple is an election-year inspiration.

"There's hope for Democrats and Republicans if they fall in love," she said with a laugh.

After 10 years of marriage, Dan and Dawn Kahle said they'll still be hitched after Election Day.    

Perfectmatch.com surveyed more than 60,000 people on the subject. More than half thought political odd couples can succeed, but 13 percent said they are doomed.