But let's not mistake one good editorial, or even two or three, for a systematic shift in how issues are covered and social problems analyzed.
David Winston, a Republican pollster, wrote a month ago of "a structural shift in the issue" that left the parties in "a dead heat" and Mr. Obama unable to mount an effective response.
In a groundbreaking move that has already prompted a fierce backlash from psychiatrists, the British Psychological Society's division of clinical psychology (DCP) will on Monday issue a statement declaring that, given the lack of evidence, it is time for a "paradigm shift" in how the issues of mental health are understood.
We need a fundamental shift in thinking about environmental issues and health issues.
In an interview on "The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer" on PBS shown on Tuesday night, Mr. Obama acknowledged a "shift in emphasis" on certain issues but suggested that they paled in comparison to Mr. McCain's shifts.
And some experts worry that the new health campaign against obesity -- spearheaded by Michelle Obama from the White House -- may be hampering donations to antitobacco campaigns as public health issues shift in emphasis and compete for funds.
The past five years have seen a radical shift in the kinds of issues generating distress in our clients: increasing inequality and outright poverty, families forced to move against their wishes, and, perhaps most important, benefits claimants (including disabled and ill people) and those seeking work being subjected to a quite new, intimidatory kind of disciplinary regime.
"I think you're going to to see a shift in emphasis to Western issues, particularly when you see a president-elect and vice president-elect from Texas and Wyoming," said Wes Marsh, an Arizona state representative who is chairman of the Assembly's Redistricting Task Force.
Overall, these new ground rules for inspections show a shift in emphasis from wellbeing issues, such as safeguarding children, community cohesion and healthy living, towards core academic standards.
The last decade has brought a major shift in how nations prioritize issues of domestic and international security.
