UPDATE: 10/26, 7:15a: From Erick Erickson: The reason Barack Obama is running this ad is because he is done trying to get independent voters. He’s given up. Despite campaign rhetoric about fighting for evangelicals, he’s given up there. He’s given up on Catholic voters. He’s given up on the South. He’s given up on men […]

Here’s how it is for socially conservative Republican politicians.

If they broach the topic of abortion, liberals howl, “It’s the economy, stupid!” and proclaim them obsessed with divisive social issues.

And if they focus on fiscal issues, the media asks them questions about social issues and proclaim them obsessed anyway.

Now we have Barack Obama sinking in the polls only after making gay marriage, free contraception, and “choice” the centerpieces of his campaign, and the media doesn’t notice. It cannot be that a Democrat could possibly suffer politically by focusing on social issues. This narrative is reserved solely for Republicans.