Religious Right Figure Gets Chills: Obama Could Win 40 Percent Of Evangelicals

[IndyOp]

"With clients like Focus on the Family, Franklin Graham, and Campus Crusade for Christ, Mark DeMoss may be the most prominent public relations executive in the evangelical world. A former chief of staff to Jerry Falwell, DeMoss became then-presidential candidate Mitt Romney's chief liaison to evangelical leaders."

In a new interview with Dan Gilgoff for BeliefNet's God-o-Meter, DeMoss explains the lack of religious enthusiasm for McCain and predicts a potential major shift to Obama.

<snip>

You represent some of the nation's most powerful evangelicals. What do those leaders say about McCain?

This is one guy's perspective, but I am surprised by how little I've seen or read in conservative circles about McCain since February. I don't think I've gotten one email or letter or phone call from anybody in America in the last four months saying anything about this election or urging that we unite behind John McCain and put aside whatever differences we have. Back in the fall and winter, you'd get several things a day from conservatives saying, "The future of the Supreme Court is at stake. We have to stop Hillary Clinton. Get behind so and so--or don't' go with this guy." It's just very quiet. It could meant there's a real sense of apathy or it could mean they're' waiting for the general election to begin. But it's a surprise, given the way email networks work now.

Barack Obama is trying hard to win evangelical voters. Does that effort stand a chance?

If one third of white evangelicals voted for Bill Clinton the second time, at the height of Monica Lewinsky mess--that's a statistic I didn't believe at first but I double and triple checked it--I would not be surprised if that many or more voted for Barack Obama in this election. You're seeing some movement among evangelicals as the term has become more pejorative. There's a reaction among some evangelicals to swing out to the left in an effort to prove that evangelicals are really not that right wing. There's some concern that maybe Republicans haven't done that well. And there's this fascination with Barack Obama. So I will not be surprised if he gets one third of the evangelical vote. I wouldn't be surprised if it was 40-percent.

[Ian David]

1. IIRC, 25% of Americans identify as Evangelical, but only 20% of Evangelicals are right-wing. n/t

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

5. Depends on whose statistics you perfer...

But that's the general idea. The James Dobson's of this world represent a minority interest in what is a large group, but still a minority of Christians. We're talking about between 5 - 10% of the electorate who will absolutely NEVER vote for a Democrat.

I personally think Obama's performance among Evangelicals could even be higher. They have a Republican who they despise and a Democrat who appeals to their broadest values and highest ideals. This could be very interesting.

[rocktivity]

2. Makes sense--we got 30% of the evengelicals in '06

religious moderates, embarrassed evangelicals and ex-loyal Bushies are going to be major players in November.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Bullet1987]

3. If Obama gets 40% of the white Evangelical vote...he's the next President

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

4. If nothing else, this means McCain is guaranteed to pick an anti-choice veep.

No way is he going to risk driving away any more evangelicals by picking someone who is pro-choice.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

6. Thus, pushing disgruntled Hillary voters right back toward Obama

Ping...Pong...

[Blue_Roses]

7. Hey, is there a link to this? I need this

to prove to my rwing BIL.

[IndyOp]

8. Link here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/06/religious-right-figure-ge_n_105667.html

Sorry I did not include it in the OP. :blush:

Good luck with your BIL -- be sure to point out the part about the % of the evangelical vote that Bill Clinton got in 1996...

:hi:

[Barack_America]

9. Another reason he should pick Tim Kaine as a running mate.

Catholic.

Spanish-speaking.

Former missionary.


Now THAT is how you target McCain's primary weakness, his inability to rally his base.


ETA: Yes, I know that the Catholic bit complicates things with hardcore evangelicals. But let's face it, hardcore evangelicals aren't going to vote Dem.