Writing on Tuesday’s Denver meeting among Christian Right activists, at which said activists vowed to put aside their differences with John McCain and back him in November, David Brody called it a “key turning point” for the Arizona senator. God-o-Meter, for its part, is wondering exactly how far McCain’s fortunes with nation’s conservative Christian activist set has turned. GOM checked in yesterday with Phil Burress (pictured), the Ohio-based evangelical activist whose pro-McCain speech in Denver went a long way in convincing those assembled to rally around McCain.
On the one hand, Burress was adamant in his support for the Arizona senator, telling those in Denver that the difference between the Republican nominee and Barack Obama was “wide as the Grand Canyon,” particularly on the issues conservative evangelicals care about most: the Supreme Court, marriage, abortion. Talking to God-o-Meter yesterday, Burress called the reaction to his Denver speech “overwhelming,”
But Burress’s report included more sobering news for McCain, too. First, he said that it’s essential that McCain do more to excite the GOP’s evangelical base. “There’s no question that the ship is turning, but we can’t turn it all the way ourselves,” Burress said, assessing the state of conservative Christian support for McCain. “[McCain] has to put his hand on the wheel.”
Secondly, Burress said that McCain’s veep selection will have a huge bearing on his level of evangelical support: “he’s going to lose 40-percent of us if he doesn’t pick the right VP.” According to the activists Burress is in touch with, acceptable running mates include former presidential candidates Mike Huckabee and Duncan Hunter, Bush White House veteran Rob Portman, and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.
What about Mitt Romney or Florida Gov. Charlie Crist? “In the meetings I’ve been in with people batting names around, neither of those names were mentioned,” Burress says.
A third warning for McCain: the Denver meeting was all about political pragmatism, as opposed to revealing a genuine or growing warmth for the senator. “This is the point that was made: it’s not about McCain,” Burress said. “It’s about the country.”
Can Christian Right leaders use such a a practical argument to urge evangelicals to the polls for McCain, even though they lack the natural affinity for him that they felt so deeply with George W. Bush? Many of those at the Denver meeting say yes. “I think evangelical leaders will be able to ‘sell’ this pragmatic argument–support McCain because of important issues,” says Charisma magazine publisher Steve Strang, who attended the Denver confab. “It will help, of course, if McCain steps up outreach to evangelicals and speaking up more on social issues. But most will support him regardless.”
God-o-Meter doesn’t disagree. It’s a forgone conclusion that most evangelicals will back McCain. But recent presidential elections have been won or lost at the margins. So the question is not whether a majority of evangelicals pull the lever for McCain. It’s whether a big enough minority will pull the lever for Obama–or not pull the lever at all.
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posted July 3, 2008 at 7:53 pm
The best we can expect from John McCain is being a hot
tempered George W. He is not very teachable, not the
greatest communicator, quick to judgement,and very moderate on social issues such as marriage. In a time
when the Democrats are trying to redefine what hate is,
destroy conservative voices in the media, allow sexual
deviates into whatever bathrooms they are inclined to
visit, force their agenda on churches, colleges and the
boy scouts…tax the American public out of recession..
Why are Americans more afraid of a fundamental Baptist
preacher and ex-Goveror, than a senator who hacked away
at the 2nd amendment, incourages a war in Afganistan where christianity is barred? Huckabee outside his jokes
has far more wisdom and vision than McCain. Agree or disagree, McCain can’t win with out him. Mark my words!
posted July 4, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Supercon spit out more hate that any Democratic Candidate. While I agree that Mike Huckabee would be an asset to McCain, I still don’t think the American public wants him there.
What the Religious Right needs to get into their thick heads is that they are not going to elect the next president, the undecideds and independents are going to swing the vote. They are the ones to reach and abortion and gay rights are not high on their lists.
War, economy and health care are on the top of our lists. Energy and outsourcing are next followed by intro-structures (highways and bridges) and emergency response.
Can McCain win without the Far Right? No, but he needs far more than them. He needs my vote as well and I’m not sure he can deliver. I don’t have confidence in him and I’m not alone.
posted July 5, 2008 at 12:10 am
The only reason these Evangelical leaders would refuse to support Romney as a possible VP candidate is simply religious intolerance due to Romney’s Mormon faith. The majority of Conservatives have had enough of these short sighted religious leaders who have no other goal than to elect one of their own. It is not going to happen. Romney is the best candidate to help rebuild the 3 coalitions of the Republican party. Religious bigotry has no place in the Republican party. We need to start working together instead of promoting identity politics. Wake up Republicans!!
posted August 22, 2008 at 10:24 am
Well, now that Steven Strang has left a vacancy for a religious endorsement, on the stage at Barack’s coronation ceremony, maybe Barack should come out of the closet and recruit the religious leaders who have always supported him … and, who Barack has always supported. Pastor Jeremiah Wright … Father Phleiger … and the rest of the radicals. But, we know Barack won’t do that, because even though that represents who Barack truly is … it wouldn’t help Barack deceive us … and get him elected. In November. Vote for a man who truly loves America, with over 40 years of service and sacrafice … not Obama, an inexperienced, incompetent, empty suit, who is being agressively packaged and sold to the American people.