WORLD Magazine, a Christian mag: Young evangelical vote is "Up for grabs"

[highplainsdem]

http://www.worldmag.com/articles/14154

Smith, 27, is part of a group observers say is a key swing voting bloc—young evangelicals. She is disillusioned with the war and doesn't think Jesus would work Himself into a frenzy over gay marriage. She calls herself pro-life. She respects McCain but is skeptical about his ability to cleanse America's tarnished reputation. An ex-Clinton supporter, she is "slowly going for Obama."

-snip-

Green said young evangelicals are "tired of the confrontational politics we've had over the last couple of decades" and want "a broader agenda and a much more inclusive approach." According to the Pew Forum's U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, 35 percent of young white evangelicals said society should accept homosexuality, compared to 22 percent of older evangelicals. While a commitment to poverty-fighting is nothing new for Christians, 58 percent of young white evangelicals would choose "bigger government providing more services" over "smaller government providing fewer services." Among older evangelicals, 56 percent would choose smaller government instead.

But while young white evangelicals are less conservative than their parents, they are still more conservative than their peers. According to Pew Forum research, 44 percent identify themselves as conservatives and 60 percent support the Iraq War. Their GOP affiliation declined dramatically after 2005, but they are still twice as likely as their peers to identify themselves as Republicans. And they are more pro-life than older evangelicals.

-snip-

Smith said her top priorities are the environment, poverty, and health care. They're the issues that affect her most—more than abortion or gay marriage—and she thinks they're the issues Jesus prioritized, too: "I know that Jesus said visit the sick, feed the hungry," she said. "I feel like I'm not going against my faith by putting those issues at the forefront."

"The whole gay thing?" she says. "Jesus never mentioned homosexuals at all."

[baldguy]

1. Maybe young "Christians" will actually act like Christians for once.

Gad willing.

[napi21]

2. I heard this on TV the other day too. Obama doesn't stand much chance

getting the older evangelical vot, but the younger ones are a possibility. It's much the same with racism. As the old farts die off, the world really will be a better place!

[blondeatlast]

3. Young evangelicals tend to be well organized and activist.

Also stronly influenced by their peers moreso than older evangs.

I don't think it would take much for them to favor Obama; the mildest outreach might well do it.