Of all the lessons to be gleaned from Ken Cuccinelli‘s narrow loss in the Virginia gubernatorial election, here’s the one I fear Republicans will refuse to learn: The McCain and Romney campaign strategy of running away from debates over values issues is an abject loser.

Cuccinelli’s opponent, Democratic moneyman Terry McAuliffe, saturated the Old Dominion with television, radio, print and online ads accusing the Republican of everything from wanting to confiscate women’s birth control pills to endorsing laws to end divorce.