While much of the national news coverage about yesterday's Kansas Primary focused on the evolution issue, the Kansas State Bored (for surely they must be) of Education has sought to compromise sexuality education as well. Fortunately, the defeat of several socially conservative ideologues in both the GOP and Democratic primaries likely signals an end to the madness. Moderate candidates won in both primaries, securing a 6-4 moderate majority no matter which party wins in November. As a Kansan-in-exile, I can assure you that is a relief, because the evolution jokes were starting to out-number the Dorothy jokes.

Looking forward, a new poll from South Dakota indicates voters there are leaning toward rejecting the legislature's ban on abortions (even in the cases of rape and incest), but according to the same poll, would approve it if those exclusions were not written into the bill. Political observers will note that the 47 percent figure is not one on which pro-choice forces can rest, as no one wants to be below 50 going into an election cycle on a controversial issue. So the campaign there certainly has little room for error, but starts with a solid lead.

Speaking of below 50 – according to the latest Cook Report analysis, only 27 percent of the electorate believes the country is moving in the right direction. Three in four people think the current leadership, be it President or Congress, is taking the country in the wrong direction.

But right now all eyes are on Connecticut's Democratic Senatorial Primary next Tuesday and the unexpected come-from-behind position incumbent Senator Joe Lieberman finds himself in. Challenger Ned Lamont received the New York Times endorsement, a harsh accounting of how Lieberman's ideology has moved him outside the mainstream – not just of the Democratic Party, but of his state and the nation as a whole. Lieberman's positions on emergency contraception and end of life issues have largely contributed to his fall.

The issues of socially conservative ideology and how it has derailed the nation from the important issues that impact all of us, as well as our image abroad, are increasingly being seen as important factors in the upcoming election. Stay tuned to Rewire in the weeks ahead as we unveil important election coverage of select races and assess how these issues are playing nationally.