Over at Right Angles, Donna Martinez posted the following observations from American University Law Professor Darren Hutchinson, who describes
himself as ?far to the left of most Americans, including most
Democrats.?

The closeness of the polls on Proposition 8 suggest that
Democrats, even in one of the bluer states, remain split over social
issues.
If Californians reject same-sex marriage, this could
indicate that voters there and in other parts of the country do not
support issues they perceive as too liberal. Thus, the fight over
Proposition 8 validates the concerns of some Democrats … who disagree with the idea that the party?s
electoral success proves that the country has shifted dramatically to
the left and that social conservatism has become a relic of the past.
 

Hutchinson could find more evidence for this thesis by investigating the type of candidate Democrats are running in traditionally conservative congressional districts.