Love this post. I agree with Sam about the litmus test in one sense -- it is always a good idea to look at a candidate's other views, especially in the Northeast (He and I both know of at least one Republican/Conservative who staunchly refused to run on the "Right to Life" line even though he knew he would lose votes, a move I always respected) -- but I agree that there are some issues that overpower us emotionally and logically and can make us almost one-issue voters.

sanj's suggestion makes me sad, though: There are no electable candidates currently running for national office who support full and equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. Even if I wanted to be a one-issue voter of sorts, there is no candidate I can vote for on my issue. (I don't find Kucinich or Ron Paul to be electable, nor do I find them to be the most appealing candidates on other issues.) So I guess what I am is more of a multi-issue voter with a one-issue deal-breaker.