WASHINGTON - As presidential hopefuls chase after votes in every nook and cranny, a Christian author pointed to a significant voting block they might have overlooked.
Candidates, to their credit, have persistently pursued evangelical caucus-goers and primary voters without rest as they play a major role in determining the results in several early voting states. However, the author of Understanding Evangelicals: A Guide to Jesusland highlighted a potentially untapped reservoir of evangelical voters.
“As I wrote in my book, the nearly 7 million evangelical voters who did not vote in 2004 are the prize to win, not the ‘undecided’ or ‘independent voters,’” David Jeffers contends.
Not only is this a sizable voting block, but the lay preacher is quick to point out their ability to self-mobilize votes with their effective “alternative media.”
“Evangelicals have a strong information network that includes homeschooling moms, e-mail traffic, and Christian bloggers,” Jeffers noted.
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee is a prime example of someone who has capitalized on the evangelical vote. He scored an overwhelming win in Iowa this week despite being short on cash and full-time staff because of a grassroots organization of evangelical networks.
On Thursday night, 3 out of every 5 Republican caucus-goers in Iowa were self-described born-again or evangelical Christians, according to CNN. The former Baptist preacher turned politician credits as many as 80 percent of his supporters from self-identified evangelicals, according to entrance polls.
“I think the evangelical Christians came out for him (Huckabee); the message was very clear,” commented CNN contributor William Bennett.
Huckabee had spoken at dozens of churches on his campaign trail and to prominent evangelical movement leaders such as activist Rick Scarborough and televangelist Kenneth Copeland.
Focus on the Family Action Chairman James C. Dobson released a statement Friday, rejecting the media’s portrayal of values voters as disengaged and testifying to the power of the evangelical vote.
“The results of the Iowa caucuses reveal that conservative Christians remain a powerful force in American politics,” he stated. “The former governor may not become the Republican nominee, and I have not endorsed him, but what happened there last night was evidence of an energized and highly motivated conservative community.”
Huckabee has received the endorsement of the Rev. Dr. Donald E. Wildmon, founder and chairman of the American Family Association; Jerry Falwell, Jr., the chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., and son of the late evangelist and founder of the Moral Majority Dr. Jerry Falwell; and Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, author of the popular Left Behind series, among others.
Author David Jeffers predicts that the evangelical vote will be the decided factor in the 2008 election.
Comments
Calling all Christians and former supporters of Thompson , Huckabee, & Giuliani. Support the only REAL Christian conservative candidate running for President Dr. Ron Paul. there is Hope for America But time is short, go to www.ronpaul2008.com and www.prayforpaul.com now.
The Christian Post censors true Christian viewpoints. Let them know. I have been blocked twice now.
Christian Post just blocked me for telling the truth about Slick Willy, Hillary and Obama! What a crock! Obviously, they are part of the left-wing Soros socialist wing of the Democrat Party!
Write them and condemn them. They stated I used profanity which is a a total lie. I have NEVER used profanity in my life, let alone in writing!
John McCain: openly contemptuous of Christians; pro-abortion; pro-redefining marriage
Mitt Romney: pro-abortion; pro-redefining marriage
Rudy Guiliani: pro-abortion; pro-redefining marriage
Obviously, there are no Dems who care about these issues. Though I disagree with Huckabee on the 'Fair Tax' issue, I just don't see that we have any other viable option for prez.
Here is a blog entry by a Christian who has really done his homework about Huckabee - everything is not as it first appears - it's a very good analysis:
http://www.jesusredeemed.us/christophers_spot/mikehuckabee.php
Mike Huckabee is a Baptist minister and a true Evangelical. He is one of us. He's pro-life, pro-marriage, will take a stand against the jihadists and secure our borders. He's our next president. Huckaboom! www.mikehuckabee.com
johannah, what Republican (or Democrat) candidate do you think Christians should support? And why?
johannah, Huckabee is not anti-homeschooling at all; I don't know where you got that information. I have a number of friends who are homeschooling, and every one of them is pulling for Huckabee. They are against abortion and changing the definition of marriage and see him as the only viable candidate in that regard. One of them had sent me a news clip of Huckabee strongly endorsing homeschooiing and I watched it, but didn't save it so don't have it now.
johanna,
I am very disturbed by your statement that if Huckabee were a true Christians he would be concerned with the safety and security of Americans who want to secure the border. Are you saying that someone's belief on immigrations is a measuring stick of whether they are a Christian. I am a Christian and I have a very different view on immigration than you, based on the very same Bible I am assuming you use to justify your beliefs.
My beliefs are based on two things the great commission and the great commandment. I need to love and share the truth with whomever God brings into my life. I have a ministry that deals with lots of illegals. I don't ask them their status, although many tell me. I help them no matter what their status is. We have seen many people come to Christ because of our outreach. I look at it like this. God has provided us a tremendous harvest field. There are millions of people God has brought to us. What a wonderful opportunity we have to show and proclaim His love to a group of people who are scared and hurting.
Now let me be clear, I do believe it is important to have a secure nation. However, I think the answers to these problems are far more complex than just sending them back home and putting up a fence.
And having said alll this, I don't judge your Christian faith based on this issue. I have many friends who are strong believers who disagree with me. But I don't think any less of their faith and they don't of mine.
DDEVONB.... every real christian is taught the difference between right and wrong, including do not lie. Those who are mentally deficient in some way may not be able to grasp the difference between right and wrong and may not understand what a lie is. Those who are evil do not care about the difference between right and wrong.
As governor, Huckabee did not do what was right for legal American residents of Arkansas and now he is lying about his record. So, is he mentally deficient or pure evil? Either way may God protect against this glib snake oil salesman.
I don't doubt Huckabee's Christianity...I do doubt his understanding of right and wrong.
It would be great to have a true conservative christian as president. Huckabee is a faux christian and if you deligently research his record as governor you will find this is true. He will say and do anything, now, to pass himself off as a conservative christian but his record says otherwise.
If he was a true christian he would be totally concerned with the safety and security of Americans who want to secure the border, end the illegal invasion, not reward illegal aliens (most are federal felons) already here andhe would endorse self deportation by strong sanctions against illegal alien employers. His record shows he did the not endorse any of these legal American positions as governor. He tried to get driver licenses for illegals and in state tuition, grants and other financial aid for illegals. If he had succeeded illegal aliens, would have been given schooling benefits that would not have been available to legal Americans. Fortunately he did not succeed. Those who do not want to hear the truth about this shyster can go stick their head in the sand but they will eventually have to face the facts just like they have to face the fact that Bush is a faux christian conservative who fooled everyone who voted for him.
pnealfive....you are obviously not interested in facts. Therefore you will be satisfied with another Clinton or Bush. And that's a shame because there are some GOP candidates who are not scandal ridden like Huckabee. And 7 of the scandals did have sunstance and that's why he tried to have the ethics committee disbanded. Also, he and his wife took $70,000 worth of donated furniture when they left office. They returned it only after the donor found out and filed a complaint against them. And here's a real tacky item that speaks to their and their friends ethics; even though they've been married since 1974 their friends signed them up at stores' bridal registeries in an effort to solicit gifts for them. Huckabee is a glib talking con artist, a a snake oil salesman.
Huckabee also went to Mexico and worked out a sweetheart deal that put a Mexican consulate in a government building. Illegals go to these consulates to get matricula cards and advice on how to avoid arrest and deportation.
Huckabee was endorsed as the GOP candidate by the NH teacher's union because he had the courage to attend their convention, and he pointed out that the No Child Left Behind was a failure because the gov't refuse to fund it to make it successful. He is absolutely correct. As to his so called ethic's violation, ethics charges are nothing new for any governor. What is important is that none of them were founded. By the way Tyson is the biggest employeed in Arkansas and it is nothing for them to try and cozy up to any governor. Just ask Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Why would any home schooling mom support Huckabee? He is a pro public school politician and anti home schooling. The New Hampshire Teachers' Union is supporting him. Doesn't that tell you something?
His tenure as governor was riddled by 14 scandals. Instead of cooperationg he sued the state and tried to get the committee disbanded.
He never met an illegal alien he didn't like. His biggest supporter is Tyson Foods, one of the biggest illegal alien employers in the country.
He destroyed over 100 computers when he left office so the information would not be made public.
This guy is listed by Judicial Wartch as the 6th most corrupt politician. Research before you vote instead of blindly following another phony like Bush!