ST. PAUL — The group on the losing end of a gay marriage legalization debate in Minnesota has confirmed it was significantly outspent on legislative lobbying.

Minnesota for Marriage, which opposes same-sex marriage, said Friday that it spent more than $200,000 to try to defeat the measure. Minnesotans United For All Families has previously said it spent more than $2 million in a successful lobbying campaign that featured phone banks, television commercials and personal appeals to lawmakers.

John Helmberger of Minnesota for Marriage says the spending disparity is, in his words, “proof that if you spend enough money you can get some legislators to do almost anything.”

Minnesota’s gay marriage law takes effect on Aug. 1.