Born-again/evangelicals larger voting bloc than blacks, Hispanics combined

[DeepModem Mom]

I've lifted these statistics from a London Times article posted in both LBN and GD2004, by myself and emad aisat sana. I believe I may have seen the statistics re. born-agains and evangelicals, but does anyone have knowledge of the article's reference to a poll indicating that Bush leads Kerry among Catholics, 63-36? (Note: I am aware that Rupert Murdoch owns the London Times, but, while conservative, it is not in the category of Fox News.)


The army of God marching for Bush
Tim Reid reports
Voters in Florida are voting for Jesus — and John Kerry it seems, is not his candidate

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-1321468,00.html

....WHITE PROTESTANTS IN AMERICA WHO DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS EITHER BORN-AGAIN OR EVANGELICAL ACCOUNT FOR A QUARTER OF THE ELECTORATE, A BIGGER VOTING BLOC THAN BLACKS AND HISPANICS COMBINED.

A recent poll by the National Annenberg Election Survey estimated that born-agains and evangelicals account for 36 per cent of registered voters in Missouri, 27 per cent in Ohio, 30 per cent in Iowa and 22 per cent in Pennsylvania. Recent polls show that up to 80 per cent of those voters prefer Mr Bush. Another survey found that 54 per cent of born-agains plan to vote for Mr Bush, while a massive 90 per cent of evangelicals plan to do so....

***

In Florida, the biggest prize among the battleground states, a third of voters describe themselves as evangelical. The state has more than 2,000 Baptist churches and a Baptist membership of nearly 1.1 million. Pastor (Jim) Henry (of Orlando's "vast" First Baptist Church) has been registering voters at his services since June. He does not tell them who to vote for, but it is clear that Mr Kerry, a practising Roman Catholic who backs abortion rights, is not the evangelicals’ favourite....

***

Another poll by the Barna Group found that Mr Bush also has a 63 per cent to 36 per cent lead among Catholic voters. If these voters need any more encouragement not to vote for Mr Kerry, the Republican National Committee directs them to a website: www.kerrywrongforevangelicals.com....

[lancdem]

1. If Bush were leading Catholics 63-36

he'd be ahead nationally by double digits. Zogby says Kerry is winning Catholics narrowly.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Thanks -- I was sure that had to be off the mark!

The British press does us a great service in providing information and good reporting not available in the States, but they often don't quite get our politics right --

[prodigal_green]

5. More Catholics in Northeast and cities

Plus, Hispanics tend to be Catholic as well.

Kerry will take Catholics. We are not all obsessed with the single issue of abortion.

[calimary]

Correct. We are NOT all obsessed with the single issue of abortion.

Lifelong Catholic here. Mother of two, including a daughter who's now technically of child-bearing age. ARDENTLY pro-choice (daughter is, also). Most of the women I know, in AND out of church, feel the same way I do.

[Tweed]

15. Catholics are the only swing group that decides elections

I've read that in the past couple of elections, whoever has gotten most of the Catholic vote has won the Presidency. Let's hope that Kerry does have an edge on Catholics. Also, Catholics tend to be large Northern cities, I highly doubt Bush has such a large lead.

[apnu]

2. this is only due to depressed voter turn out among Hispanics and Blacks

Evangelical leaders all make sure their "flock" is registered and that they march to the polls in a zombie horde.

Blacks and Hispanics don't because of a deep distrust of the government on any level. Gee... I wonder why?

[rocktivity]

4. We won't have to worry about them if the Red Sox win the World Series, LOL

They literally come back from the dead to win the pennant. A World Series win would REALLY prove that it's Kerry who is actually God's candidate, LOL!!!

:headbang:
rocknation

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. I'm glad to see a distinction drawn between

'born-again' and 'evangelicals'. Among the born again there is a wide variance in beliefs. After all, Jimmy Carter was the first publicly proclaimed born-again president. They (I am certainly not one, so can speak only as an outsider) live faith-based lives.

Evangelicals, as far as I can tell, live entertainment based lives. They get their religion from the entertainer/preachers on television. They think less critically, have a poorer understanding of their own religion, and are given to sound-bite theology. Maybe it has something to do with the alpha-waves from the TV, sets in a kind of hypnosis. I don't think they can be reached. What these people need is deprogramming.

But born-agains can be reached. Born-agains, I should think, would have some doubts about the connections between 'Rev' Moon, the Bush family, and certain televangists. Born-agains can understand that 'pro-choice' mean a person can choose against abortion, and that the decision can be left to an individual, her doctor, and her faith. Born-agains understand the need for a separation between church and state -- it was one of the founding principles of the Baptist faith.

Kerry can reach the Catholics. There are plenty of moderate protestant Christians, including born-agains, that have reason to be wary of the fundamentalist/evangelical factions that have seemingly taken over the Republican party.

I think we are fairly safe on that front.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. That's encouraging, NCDUer --

and a very thoughtful post. Thanks.

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Here's what you need to consider, though.

Fundagelicals can be counted fairly easily due to church registries. Not so with the spiritual left, who do not require church attendance the way their conservative counterparts do.

In other words, the spiritual left (ergo, the live and let live branches as opposed to the "my God is Bigger and Badder than your God" ones) voting bloc is larger than anyone could possibly know because there is no tally on them.

Don't count us out as a force at the polls! :)

[DeepModem Mom]

10. Bless you, GPV!

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Right back atcha, DMM! ;^D

[liberal N proud]

9. They count in those numbers anyone who is considered a member

of one of the churches who supplied them illegally with their member ship list.
I go to church, the church considers me a member and these study thinks that is going to make vote their way.

I believe they don't have the voters among the fundies that they think. There are many to meek to make a statement. Where as the church I attend by now has figured out that I for one will not vote with the fundies, with my Kerry Edwards pin and bumber stickers on all my vehicles. (I always make sure to park where everyone can see my bumper sticker going into and out of the church)

[DeepModem Mom]

11. Bless you, lNp...

and your bumper sticker!

[Iceburg]

13. I think Karl picked the wrong demonination for georgie ...

Top Ten Largest Religious Bodies in the United States
http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html#bodies

Membership:
Catholic Church (2002) 66,407,105
United Methodist Church (2002) 8,251,042

[drdigi420]

14. its sad that in this day of science and technology

that religion plays any roll whatsoever in anyone's life