Press Release
Religion & Ethics Newsweekly - "2008 Campaign: Conventions Preview"
2008 Campaign: Conventions Preview
Cover Story, Original Broadcast Date: August 22, 2008 (Show #1151):
As Democrats and Republicans prepare for their national conventions, both camps are actively competing for religious votes. The candidates are talking about their personal faith, and the campaigns are developing wide-ranging strategies for faith-based outreach -- including efforts to attract the evangelical vote. Traditionally, evangelicals who are the single largest block of religious voters have supported Republican candidates. But now, there are a growing number who want to expand their agenda beyond abortion to also include issues like poverty, AIDS and the environment, which could help Democrats capture some of their votes in November. Kim Lawton reports on the impact of religion on both parties as they head into the upcoming election. According to Joshua DuBois, director of religious affairs for the Obama campaign, "We're very humble in our approach to the outreach. We're certainly not hoping to win outright the evangelical vote, but we certainly are going to make a serious effort to introduce Senator Obama and his values to the nation and I think a lot of folks are going to respond to that." But according to former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, "I think the Republicans are going to see increasing numbers of people rally around John McCain. They're comfortable with his own depth of personal character, his faith, his honor. And they know that his positions really do reflect more of what they believe to be important."
Featured (in alphabetical order):
Mali, Former Victim
Reverend Kit Ripley, Resident Chaplain, New Life Center
Karen Smith, Director, New Life Center
Faye Wimon, New Life Center
As Democrats and Republicans prepare for their national conventions, both camps are actively competing for religious votes. The candidates are talking about their personal faith, and the campaigns are developing wide-ranging strategies for faith-based outreach -- including efforts to attract the evangelical vote. Traditionally, evangelicals who are the single largest block of religious voters have supported Republican candidates. But now, there are a growing number who want to expand their agenda beyond abortion to also include issues like poverty, AIDS and the environment, which could help Democrats capture some of their votes in November. Kim Lawton reports on the impact of religion on both parties as they head into the upcoming election. According to Joshua DuBois, director of religious affairs for the Obama campaign, "We're very humble in our approach to the outreach. We're certainly not hoping to win outright the evangelical vote, but we certainly are going to make a serious effort to introduce Senator Obama and his values to the nation and I think a lot of folks are going to respond to that." But according to former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, "I think the Republicans are going to see increasing numbers of people rally around John McCain. They're comfortable with his own depth of personal character, his faith, his honor. And they know that his positions really do reflect more of what they believe to be important."
Featured (in alphabetical order):
Mali, Former Victim
Reverend Kit Ripley, Resident Chaplain, New Life Center
Karen Smith, Director, New Life Center
Faye Wimon, New Life Center