Here are the exit poll results as they first came out:

Taxes (5%)
Education (4%)
Iraq (15%)
Terrorism (19%)
Economy/Jobs (20%)
Moral Values (22%)
Health Care (8%)

Here are some points about these numbers:

(hat tip to chicagoboyz.com)

1) 78% of voters thought something other than moral values was more important.

2) Moral values is a somewhat ambiguous term, so it could mean the voter was thinking about something other than abortion or gay marriage. However, I acknowlegde that most voters that chose moral values were equating it with traditional values, a less ambiguous term.

3) The Iraq and Terrorism percentages could be combined under the umbrella heading of National Security. Those two total to 34%, 12% higher than moral values at 22%.

4) Taxes, jobs/economy can reasonbly be combined, as tax policy affects the economy and therefore jobs. These total to 25%. One can go further and add health care. When voters mention health care as their top item, they are not talking about quality, they are talking about delivery/cost/insurance concerns, an economic concern. These three categories total to 33%, just one point under Iraq/Terrorism.

This means 2 out of 3 voters (67%) chose either security or economics as what concerned them most in making their choices. These numbers make clear that national security and good old fashioned bread and butter economic issues were and are what most voters consider important.

Social conservatives are waving the 22% and trying to take the wheel, or at least ride shotgun in the Repub party. The Left is trying to demonize social conservatives to spook the moderates. I think the Repub pols will realize this and govern accordingly. Not so sure about the Dems though.