Social issues second to economy, but pro-lifers doing well

Conventional wisdom says that the economy trumped all other issues this election cycle. But the success of pro-life candidates tonight suggests that the common ground between social conservatives and fiscal conservatives is significant.

The pro-life Susan B. Anthony List waged a "Votes Have Consequences" campaign targeting pro-abortion candidates, and they were claiming success early in the evening. One of their targets was Indiana Rep. Brad Ellsworth. He was defeated in his bid for the U.S. Senate seat from Indiana by former Sen. Dan Coats, a pro-life stalwart.

Kelly Ayotte, who had served as attorney general of New Hampshire from 2004 to 2009, won a hard-fought race for the Senate on an unabashedly pro-life platform in a state not known for its pro-life activism. Marco Rubio in Florida and Rand Paul in Kentucky were both strongly backed by the fiscal conservatives of the Tea Party, but both are also openly pro-life.

"Members of Congress who finesse or ignore the deeply held values of their constituents lose their title 'representative' in principle and in fact," said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser.

Other Tea Party-backed candidates who also have pro-life credentials posted wins tonight, including Sue Myrick (N.C.-9), Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.-10), Virginia Foxx (N.C.-5), Sandy Adams (Fla.-24), and Diane Black (Tenn.-7).

See WORLD's interactive national map for complete election results from across the country.