Back in the 2007-2008 Republican primary season, each candidate vied to convince voters that he would be strongest when it came to the traditional conservative “three-legged stool,” that is, on national security, economic, and social issues.

You don’t hear much about that three-legged stool anymore.  Now, at least in Iowa, there’s a new one.  When the Washington Post asked likely caucus-goers to choose the most important issues they will consider when choosing a candidate, the top three were 1) the economy and jobs; 2) the federal budget deficit; and 3) social issues like abortion and gay marriage.  No other issues were close.