CHARLOTTE, N.C. - You only have to step outside the Democratic National Convention center in downtown Charlotte where vendors and special interest groups are hawking their goods to realize that the Democrats have become the party of hard-edged social issues, not the GOP.
While the Republicans have largely tried to follow former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels' suggestion that they stick to economic issues, the Democrats have gone hog wild on social issues like abortion, contraception and same sex marriage.
Consider the dozens of pink-shirted Planned Parent representatives. As the crowds stroll by, they yell out "Get your 'Protect yourself from Romney and Ryan condom,'" as they hand out pink condom packages with a single condom appropriately dyed blue.
"Everybody is pleasant," said Planned Parenthood hawker Alissa Hanan, of Asheville, N.C., who shyly held one up for a picture.
Abortion is also a big topic with convention goers, especially those who supported Sandra Fluke, the former college student whose congressional testimony supporting government backing of contraception was hit by conservative talker Rush Limbaugh.
Aspen, Colorado delegate Blanca O'Leary, for example, sported a "Sluts Vote," button, a reference to the word Limbaugh used to describe Fluke. Said O'Leary, "All women should have the right to birth control."
