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The last 48 hours of political news -- the Supreme Courts (in)action on gay marriage, plus the slew of midterm debates -- has made this pretty clear: Republicans have largely retreated in the latest battle of the Culture Wars. At least for now. And especially in the blue and purple battleground states. As we wrote on Tuesday, Republicans were mostly silent when the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to consider gay-marriage cases, which effectively legalized same-sex marriage in several more states across the country. And at a debate last night that one of us moderated, Republican Ed Gillespie, whos running for the Senate in purple Virginia, said that while he doesnt personally back gay marriage because of his faith, he accepted the courts ruling. It is the law in Virginia today, he said. Of course I accept the ruling. Gillespie even went on to say that his support in 2004 of a constitutional amendment to enforce that marriage can only exist between a man and a woman was due to being chairman of the Republican National Committee at the time, and didnt reflect his personal views. Similarly, in Colorado last night, GOP Senate candidate Cory Gardner accepted the Supreme Courts decision. I have supported traditional marriage, but I also believe that people must be treated with dignity and respect, he said. And that is why I will abide by the decision of the courts.

On gay marriage, contraception, and personhood

And its not just gay marriage. In Virginia last night, Gillespie stood by his support of offering contraception to women behind the counter like Sudafed. Making the case for tweaking the Obama health care plan, he said: Talk about having faith in the women of Virginia -- I have faith in the women of Virginia, to make those determinations of what is the best plan and policy for them and their medical needs. And in Colorado, Gardner explained why he backed the federal Life at Conception Act but now opposes the state personhood ballot initiatives he once supported. I do not support the Personhood Amendment. Sen. Udall said that a good-faith change of position should be considered a virtue, not a vice.

But this doesnt mean the Culture Wars are over

Of course, none of this means that the Culture Wars are over for good; the parties will continue to clash over abortion. And its worth noting that these examples took places in the blue/purple states of Colorado and Virginia that Obama won in 2012 (though Republicans ALMOST HAVE to win those states to get to 270 electoral votes in the next presidential election). In North Carolina last night, by contrast, Republican Senate candidate Thom Tillis said he would defend the states same-sex marriage ban, and he railed against activist liberal judges who he says legislate from the bench, per MSNBCs Michael LaRosa. But what HAS taken place is Republicans -- for the most part -- have retreated on the culture-war issues that have largely dominated the last two election cycles: gay marriage, contraception, and personhood.

Also at last nights VA SEN debate

Meanwhile, here is our wrap of last nights Virginia Senate debate between Gillespie and incumbent Sen. Mark Warner: Gillespie sought to paint Warner as a partisan Democrat and stalwart Obama ally But Warner countered that Gillespie's former role as a top GOP lobbyist and party leader make him a partisan warrior for the Republican Party. More: During the debate, Warner highlighted his differences from Obama on the Keystone XL pipeline, on foreign policy -- arguing for a more aggressive response than the administration has enacted against ISIS -- and on reducing the deficit. Asked if he believes Majority Leader Harry Reid is the best possible leader for Senate Democrats, Warner replied: I think we could perhaps do better in both parties moving forward. (We wonder what Harry Reid thinks of that answer.) And: For his part, Gillespie suggested that the RNC's backing of a federal same-sex marriage ban during his tenure as chairman wasn't reflective of his personal views, and he said his party went too far in instituting mandatory minimum sentences for crimes.

And at last nights other debates in Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, and West Virginia

And here is the wrap from MSNBCs Michael LaRosa on last nights FOUR other Senate debates -- in Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, and West Virginia. In what has been called a Super Tuesday of U.S. Senate campaign debates last night, Democratic hopefuls in Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, and West Virginia faced a relentless assault from their Republican opponents tying them to President Obama and accusing them of being his rubber stamp. All four debates sounded like re-runs of each other, as GOP candidates marched in lock step using the President's recent remarks, that his policies are on the ballot this year, to discredit Democrats with voters who are unhappy with the Obama Administration. Barack Obama even said this week that his polices are on the ballot, said Georgia Republican David Perdue, a line repeated by his Republican counterparts in Colorado, North Carolina and West Virginia.

You know youre probably not winning when

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GOP in Retreat: Are the Culture Wars Cooling Off?