An increasingly moderate public?

A recent Pew report highlights two public opinion trends that possibly indicate a more moderate electorate.  Support for both protecting Americans' gun rights and allowing gay marriage has risen substantially over the past eight years.  Increased support for these politically 'opposite' issues would seem to indicate that the public is becoming more versatile and accepting.  This shift to increased support for protection of rights is not universal, however; since 1995, public support for abortion has remained relatively steady.

So if the electorate is becoming more moderate, as these polls would indicate, will the political system follow suit?  As the numerous proposals presented in class contend, I think our representatives will not evolve to reflect public opinion without some sort of significant reform to campaign finance/congressional procedure, etc.