In Ohio, Democrats Show a Religious Side to Voters

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: In Ohio, Democrats Show a Religious Side to Voters
By DAVID KIRKPATRICK
Published: October 31, 2006

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 30 — Representative Ted Strickland, an Ohio Democrat and former Methodist minister, opened his campaign for governor with a commercial on Christian radio vowing that “biblical principles” would guide him in office.

In his first major campaign speech, Mr. Strickland said “the example of Jesus” had led him into public service. He has made words from the prophet Micah a touchstone of his campaign.

Ohio, where a groundswell of conservative Christian support helped push President Bush to re-election two years ago, has become the leading edge of national Democratic efforts to win over religious voters, including evangelicals.

Explaining his hope to win conservative Christian votes, Mr. Strickland said, “I try to make a distinction between the religious right — people who have a conservative theological perspective — and the political religious right, who seem to have as their primary motivation political influence.”

Polls show a notable decline since 2004 in support for Republicans among white evangelical Christians, who make up about a quarter of the electorate. The slip in Ohio has been especially steep. In 2004, 76 percent of white evangelical Christians in Ohio voted for Mr. Bush over the Democratic candidate, Senator John Kerry. But in a recent New York Times/CBS News poll, 53 percent of the same voters approved of the president’s performance, and 42 percent disapproved....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/31/us/politics/31church.html

[jwirr]

1. He defined the difference between Dem Christians and fundies

beautifully. We are guided, they want to establish their laws for everyone else. We search our own conscience, they never look at their own sinfulness as their focus is always on "that guy over there".

[OzarkDem]

2. K & R