EDGE on the Net

Pigeonholed as a right-wing disciple, Michele Bachmann is offering herself as a presidential candidate who can unite the GOP’s disparate base and appeal to Republicans of all ideological stripes.

For conservatives who embrace the less-is-more philosophy of keeping government out of people’s private lives, marriage equality is both inevitable and welcome. But for politicians of another stripe, gays and their families remain low-hanging political fruit.

The prime subject of political discussion in Iowa isn’t gays marrying, or abortion or other social issues. It’s the federal deficit.

Although fixing the economy is the top priority, Republicans who won greater control of state governments in this month’s election are considering how to pursue action on a range of social issues, including abortion, gun rights and even divorce laws.