Though the economy clearly was the defining issue of the election, Obama forged a new coalition by luring millions of religious voters who had avoided Democrats in recent years.
In short:
He narrowed the God Gap. Bush beat Kerry among weekly church-goers by 61%-39%. McCain beat Obama 55%-43% Most of that gain appears to have come from Protestants rather than Catholics
He won Catholics back. Early exit polls indicate he won 53% of the Catholic vote compared to 45% for John McCain. George W. Bush won the Catholic vote 52%-46%. Most of those gains came from Catholics who don’t attend mass weekly.
He also improved among white Catholics, according to the early exit polls. Bush got 56%-43% As of now, McCain lead by 53%-46% This was despite an aggressive push by more than 50 Bishops to encourage Catholics to focus on abortion as the central issue.
He gained among Evangelicals. Evangelicals and Born Again Christians made up a greater portion of the electorate this year than last election but that didn’t all accrue to McCain’s benefit, as predict. Obama improved slightly on a national level, getting 25% compared to Kerry’s 21%
But far more important, he made significant progress in the pivotal rustbelt states that won him the election. For instance, evangelicals flooded the polls in Ohio and Obama significantly improved on Kerry’s showing.
He attracted more Mainline Protestants – Though shifting toward the center in recent years, mainline Protestants — once a core of the Republican party — – still went for the Republicans in 2004. The exit polls didn’t ask specifically about mainline Protestants but it appears Obama improved slightly with this group.
He energized the lightly religious. Though secular voters already voted Democratic, they did so by an even bigger margin this year. Even more important, a quarter of the electorate says they go to worship services but only a few times a year. Kerry won that group with 54%-45%. Obama won 59%-39%
That’s what happened. Here’s HOW he did it.
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posted November 5, 2008 at 1:47 am
But the important question has to be asked. Did Obama really win them, or did the economy drive them into his camp?
posted November 5, 2008 at 5:36 am
It’s a sad day when so-called christians help elect a man who openly voted for infanticide and who will not defend Israel. God have mercy.
posted November 5, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I would hope it was more of a realization of personal values and choosing a candidate that reflected those values. As for “infanticide”, to make abortion illegal will not stop, only drive it underground where it will become dangerous and unregulated. Making abortion illegal will not change the attitude that actions do not have repercussions and that life is not sacred. Also, making abortion illegal forces your moral and religious beliefs on people who do not share them. That is not what being a follower of Christ is about.
As for Israel, they have been able to defend themselves well enough for years, and I have every confidence that they will continue to do so.
posted November 5, 2008 at 8:37 pm
The crux of the matter is murder. Legalizing murder, or having it unlawful as it is today does not and will not make it non existent. Same with abortion. Just because it goes underground..legalize it? Might as well legalize everything..
However i do agree that the root of the matter is having a greater moral foundation, and nothing can be stronger than the fruit of the Spirit to determine this. The law is only a mirror of Gods standards against our imperfections.
Lastly..many Evangelical Christians may be bitter or seem to have lost some sense of hope today..Look UP, heavenly wisdom is needed today more than any other time in history. Ask.Ask.Ask.
posted November 10, 2008 at 8:05 pm
I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW ANYONE COULD CLAIM TO BE A BELIEVER AND VOTE FOR OBAMA. I DONOT BELIEVE THEY ARE REAL BELIEVERS. THEY ARE WOLVES IN SHEEPS CLOTHING.OBAMA IS AN EVIL MAN. HIS BELIEFS ARE EVIL. HIS FRIENDS ARE EVIL. HE SAYS EVIL THINGS.
NO TRUE CHRISTIAN COULD SUPPORT SUCH A MAN.THIS SHOWS HOW EASY THE ANTICHRIST WILL BE ACCEPTED.
posted November 11, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Obama is a fine Christian man who embodies the essence of Christian values. Moral issues such as poverty, peace, racism, torture, human rights, and creation-care were the values that many of us Christians voted on.
I find the previous comments by several posters quite un-christian in their level of hatred for a man of good character and obvious Faith.