Press Release
Religion & Ethics Newsweekly - "2008 Campaign: Faith-Based Outreach Plans"
2008 Campaign: Faith-Based Outreach Plans
Perspectives, Original Broadcast Date: June 13, 2008 (Show #1141):
As religion continues to be a prominent issue in this campaign season, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama met privately with some 40 faith leaders, including megachurch pastor T.D. Jakes and evangelist Franklin Graham, while John McCain held a private meeting with Archbishop Demetrios, head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in New York. According to a new national survey on religion and public life conducted by the Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the first time in polling history more mainline Protestants identify with the Democratic Party than the Republican Party. According to the study, 46 percent of mainline Protestants call themselves Democrats, compared to 37 percent who describe themselves as Republican. However, John McCain has a slight edge with mainline Protestants voters over Democratic nominee Barack Obama by 44 to 38 percent. Bob Abernethy talks with Kim Lawton about efforts by the candidates to reach out to religious voters. "There are a large number of evangelicals, about 18 percent, still undecided," Lawton observes. "And we're hearing from some of the leaders of the movement that they're just not that enthused about the McCain campaign and about John McCain. And so, I think the Republicans have a big challenge in trying to make sure that that base is energized."
Featured: Kim Lawton, Managing Editor, RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY
As religion continues to be a prominent issue in this campaign season, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama met privately with some 40 faith leaders, including megachurch pastor T.D. Jakes and evangelist Franklin Graham, while John McCain held a private meeting with Archbishop Demetrios, head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in New York. According to a new national survey on religion and public life conducted by the Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the first time in polling history more mainline Protestants identify with the Democratic Party than the Republican Party. According to the study, 46 percent of mainline Protestants call themselves Democrats, compared to 37 percent who describe themselves as Republican. However, John McCain has a slight edge with mainline Protestants voters over Democratic nominee Barack Obama by 44 to 38 percent. Bob Abernethy talks with Kim Lawton about efforts by the candidates to reach out to religious voters. "There are a large number of evangelicals, about 18 percent, still undecided," Lawton observes. "And we're hearing from some of the leaders of the movement that they're just not that enthused about the McCain campaign and about John McCain. And so, I think the Republicans have a big challenge in trying to make sure that that base is energized."
Featured: Kim Lawton, Managing Editor, RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY