By Adelle M. Banks
2008 Religion News Service
WASHINGTON — The day after Super Tuesday, when so much was supposed to become so clear, evangelicals are as divided — and sought after — as they were the day before.
“There was this expectation, I think, over the course of the last year, that evangelicals — both the vanguard, the leadership of the movement, and the rank and file — would kind of congeal around a single candidate,” said Dan Gilgoff, political editor at Beliefnet.com.
“What you’re seeing is McCain, Huckabee and Romney are really splitting those votes.”
As the election season plows along, the three major Republican candidates are each facing challenges as they try to woo evangelicals.
At the same time, the continuing evangelical dispersal has some pointing to a natural opening for Democrats in their attempts to lure evangelicals away from the GOP.
Exit polls showed former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee drew the largest share of white evangelical voters (38 percent), followed by Sen.
John McCain (30 percent) and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (27 percent), according to the Associated Press.
Some evangelicals express larger concerns over Arizona Sen. John McCain’s conservative bona fides, while others are skeptical about the depths of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s conservative convictions or about Huckabee’s electability.
McCain is finding that some evangelicals won’t consider him at all.
Focus on the Family founder James Dobson issued a blistering statement in the midst of primary voting Tuesday (Feb. 5) that criticized him for not backing a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and for supporting embryonic stem-cell research.
“I cannot, and will not, vote for Sen. John McCain, as a matter of conscience,” said Dobson, stressing that he was speaking as a private citizen.
The Rev. Joel Hunter, a Florida megachurch leader who has become known for his pro-environmental stance, said Dobson’s words will have resonance for those who are most loyal to him.
“That will have some impact, not a large impact,” he predicted.
Hunter said he detected some movement toward McCain. “There are many evangelicals who are tickled to support somebody who’s pro-life and pro-environment and considers treating immigrants humanely.”
As for Huckabee, evangelical support has only gone so far for the former Southern Baptist pastor. In most states, he has not received 50 percent of the evangelical vote, points out Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.
“Evangelicals are not one-dimensional,” he said. “Many pro-family evangelicals are also strong national security hawks and … many pro-family evangelicals are also economic conservatives and so many of them have chosen to vote for other pro-life candidates.”
Romney, whose Mormon faith has given some evangelicals pause, now finds he is questioned by religious conservatives who are troubled by what Land called the “recentness” of his change to their viewpoint on social issues like abortion.
“Those of us who have been fortunate enough to hear him personally tell the story of his change, most of us, are convinced,” said Land.
“Unfortunately, he can’t have a small-group discussion with every evangelical in America.”
More evangelicals have backed Romney than predicted, said Mark DeMoss, a publicist for conservative Christians who has been actively involved in his campaign.
“A year ago, a lot of experts would have said you’re not going to attract any of them,” said DeMoss. “And I think he’s attracted probably millions of them.”
Gilgoff said some evangelicals may consider a Democratic candidate for president, since both Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have made religious outreach a top priority.
Hunter saw some potential evangelical interest in Obama — less “polarizing” than Clinton, he thought — and his promise to find bipartisan solutions to domestic challenges and caring for the poor.
“Obama’s attractive, not because of the issues, but because of his ability to inspire,” Hunter said.
But more-conservative evangelical leaders don’t expect much movement across party lines, especially since both Clinton and Obama support abortion rights.
“Not a chance,” said Connie Mackey, senior vice president of FRC Action, the legislative arm of the Family Research Council.
Copyright 2008 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.
Beliefnet
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posted February 6, 2008 at 7:35 pm
If I were McCain, I wouldn’t worry that James Dobson isn’t going to vote for him, because McCain wouldn’t vote a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, or for supporting embryonic stem cell research. Dobson claims he was speaking as a private citizen…then why was he announcing it?
Personally I think amendments to the US Constitution should be saved for really important issues, and banning gay marriage isn’t one. Gay marriage is just as much a right as heterosexual marriage. The Federal government shouldn’t be in charge of telling folks who they can marry. As for embryonic stem cell research, that too should be supported. Hope Dobson doesn’t get any disease that could possibly be cured by the research.
posted February 6, 2008 at 7:58 pm
It will be a test. If, as seems likely, McCain wins the nomination they’ll have to choose between him, right on their abortion issue, or a Democrat who will be wrong there but right on so very many other issues, such as the environment and getting us out of our Iraq adventure that’s literally breaking our treasury as well as our military forces (and McCain would stay there forever it seems).
So, will those who say they’ve broadened their considerations walk the walk or just talk the talk.
posted February 6, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Well, your analysis is imperfect. Yes, many are “broadening their agendas,” but the war is one area where I believe evangelicals are still pretty strongly on the GOP side, though much less than they were before. As for issues like the environment, McCain has actually proven pretty good on that—that is actually part of the reason why I think he’s getting his boost, because he is pretty moderate in general. Really on the issues the Dems are still not where evangelicals want them to be—I can’t think of any of my fellow theocrats who are supporting Hillary, and while I’ve heard many who like Obama, it’s always with the caveat, “except for his OPINIONS…”
God bless.
posted February 6, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Perhaps the evangelicals have finally realized they are individuals with different lives and situations that would make them vote in different ways instead of following an edict being pushed at them in their churches and by like-friends. “Being lured by democrats”, how silly a comment. Can’t you just picture this big democratic black cloud enveloping such goodness?
posted February 6, 2008 at 8:43 pm
“As for issues like the environment, McCain has actually proven pretty good on that…”
Compared to GWB and a lot of other Republicans, yes. But so much needs to be done and the hundreds of billions of dollars we spend every year on the military will preclude us doing most of them, especially till we get this rock called Iraq from around our necks. And McCain will grow the military; it’s his life from childhood on. He will continue the “scare the money out of them” to enrich his friends in the Military-Industrial Complex.
posted February 6, 2008 at 8:50 pm
And then there’s the whole issue of whether McCain is sane enough to be President if the press ever talks about it.
posted February 6, 2008 at 9:12 pm
There are 2 of this same article on the site right now. I posted on the other one, so won’t post on this one.
posted February 6, 2008 at 10:36 pm
There are two identical artices on this. The other one currently has several more posts. I suggest we all post on the other one.
posted February 7, 2008 at 10:46 am
I would expect nothing less from Dobson. If things don’t go his way he stomps off and pouts, making fussy noises so people will at least look at him.
Brother James, grow up. Maturity means making difficult choices, not whimpering becaue you don’t like any of the choices presented to you. This is not a good model for any sort of maturity in faith or citizenship.
posted February 7, 2008 at 11:06 am
OK, B’net Tiger – we will all joinyou in one collective, “Oops!”. And here I thought it was because i did not have any coffee this morning.
I would expect nothing less from Dobson. If things don’t go his way he stomps off and pouts, making fussy noises so people will at least look at him.
Brother James, grow up. Maturity means making difficult choices, not whimpering becaue you don’t like any of the choices presented to you. This is not a good model for any sort of maturity in faith or citizenship.
posted February 7, 2008 at 1:25 pm
The news now is that Romney will suspend his campaign. That would seem to give it to McCain; wonder what Huckabee will do.
If Clinton and Obama could play nice they could have several debates, getting free publicity and seeing who could attack McCain the best. I’d like to see that happen.
posted February 7, 2008 at 1:51 pm
From above’s identical article, my words;
If I were McCain I wouldn’t worry that James Dobson isn’t going to vote for him because McCain wouldn’t vote against a Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage or that McCain is for embryonic stem cell research. Dobson claims that he was speaking as a private citizen, and if that’s the case, why was he announcing it?
IMO amendments to the US Constitution should be saved for really important things, and banning gay marriage isn’t one of them. Gay marriage is as much of a right as heterosexual marriage. The Federal government shouldn’t be in charge of who someone marrys. As for embryonic stem cell research, that too should be supported. Maybe Dobson won’t get a deadly disease that the research would help.
posted February 7, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Romney has suspended his campaign, officially. nnmns, you mentioned that McCain might choose Huck as VP. He’s sitting right there now…should be interesting.