Democrats’ faith caucus meets
flockwoodDENVER — The Democrats are stressing faith at this year’s convention, evening organizing a “faith caucus” to unite “people of faith.”
But it’s unclear whether this will translate into votes on Election Day. The Democratic Party, of course, has always included people of faith. Since the days of FDR, Jewish voters have voted overwhelmingly Democratic. So have black Protestants (and Catholics.)
Until the 1960s, white evangelical Protestants were also a predominantly Democratic voting bloc.[Evangelicals lived disproportionately in the South, which was disproportionately poor and disproportionately Democratic.] Catholics also leaned Democratic.
In 2004, exit polls showed 78 percent of white evangelicals voted for George W. Bush. If Democrats can lower that figure to 70 percent, they’re almost certain to win in November.
I’ve been keeping my eye out for prominent evangelicals here, and so far, I haven’t come across any. Other than Florida megachurch pastor Joel Hunter (who gives the closing prayer tonight), the only one I was aware of was Cameron Strang, the 30-something publisher of Relevant Magazine. But Strang canceled on the eve of the convention.
I’ll be writing more, but I’ve got to close for now. The convention starts in about four minutes, and I want to see as much as possible.