For decades, the "three Gs" have been a defining feature of the American political landscape. Guns, God and gays have been reliable hot-button issues constantly used to fire up Republicans and lambast Democrats.

But there are signs of a fundamental shift away from the so-called "culture wars" that have raged across American public life since at least the 1970s. In his first two months in office, Barack Obama has moved forward on a series of controversial issues yet his popularity has barely suffered.

The president has taken a stand against anti-abortion rules in clinics and legalized funding for stem cell research. He has praised Islam and Iran on his recent overseas trip and held a Passover ceremony in the White House. Meanwhile, a series of states, including Iowa, deep in the American heartland, have legalised gay marriage and more are expected to follow suit.

Yet, for all the sound and fury this has prompted on the extreme right, Obama remains a popular president. That has led some to wonder if the culture wars are finally losing some of their power. "People are tired of this. A lot of them are thinking: let's move on," said Professor Shaun Bowler, a political scientist at the University of California, Riverside.