Don't discount the Komen/Planned Parenthood flap in this scheme either. Reports came out right as the Komen VP was about to resign that she was saying the move to defund PP was planned for a long time for non-political reasons, and that PP was informed in advance, and indicated that they understood the decision, and that there would be no retaliation. Then came the Komen decision, and Planned Parenthood's subsequent systematic demonization, thrusting contraception into the limelight.
This whole flap has been orchestrated to shift the debate to social issues, a weakness and a divisive distraction for Republicans in an election where the economy and the devastation of Hussein Obama should be front and center.