Winning elections

Republican governors are talking an election strategy next year that is much different from the contentious tactics that split the party and may have cost it victory in the recent 23rd Congressional District race.

Social issues such as abortion and gay marriage figured prominently in the campaign that saw high-level Republicans turn against the party's nominee, Assemblywoman Dierdre K. Scozzafava, in favor of Conservative Party candidate Douglas L. Hoffman.

Yet, Adam Nagourney, reporting for the New York Times, wrote that "there was barely a whisper about abortion, gay marriage and gun control" at a recent gathering of Republican governors looking ahead to the 2012 gubernatorial elections.

"The focus should be on bread-and-butter, kitchen-table, quality-of-life issues," said Robert F. McDonnell, the Republican who defeated a Democratic candidate for governor in Virginia.

Governors elected next year will play an important role in redistricting that will follow the 2010 Census as well as in the presidential campaign two years later. Republicans hope to play a greater part by putting together winning election campaigns based on economic issues that touch Americans.