ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, SportsSocial issues dominate U.S. politics

Suddenly abortion, contraception and gay marriage are back at the forefront of American politics.

Social issues typically do not dominate the discussion when the economy is shaky, but they do raise emotions.  Those emotions can affect voter turnout and campaign cash.

A new Pew Research survey shows the economy still tops the list of voters' concerns and probably will still shape this presidential election.

But for now, at least, the culture wars of the 1990s are back.  This is a twist: the same group of voters that opposes abortion might split over gay marriage.  Which party will benefit is anybody's guess.