Evangelical’s Move to Support John McCain

The AP has reported that Conservative Church leaders met this week to consider backing McCain as well as petitioning him to consider Mike Huckabee for the V.P. slot Booth Newspapers Michigan.

Barrack Obama has been seeking to convince Christian Church leaders that he is acceptable as “Liberal Christian”, going so far as to pick up George W. Bush’s Faith Based Initiatives as part of his platform this past week. However, given the recent Supreme Court Rulings, (Gun Rights and Guantanamo Bay - both decisions hinging on the whims of one Justice who could weigh in either to the right or to the left) the realization that the all-important Judiciary is certainly in play has given Conservatives who were sitting on the sidelines reason to give McCain more than a second glance.

Add to that the fact that Mike Huckabee has been actively campaigning for John McCain and has met with Evangelical leaders over the past few months to make a case for McCain’s presidency (RightWingWatch). The judiciary and the danger of Islamic Fundamentalism are key issues that will give these leaders the ability to overlook certain aspects of John McCain’s moderate record and get behind the Republican nominee. It is also natural that they would encourage McCain to add Mike Huckabee to the ticket – Huckabee resonates with the rank and file, he can aid McCain in carrying the south and the Midwest, and adds both personality as well as governing experience to the ticket. It is not so much his religious background (although that is certainly a part of their decision), but more so the strategy of this particular ticket that is generating interest from the Churches.

Although Beltway pundits and special interest groups prefer Mitt Romney, (and have from the beginning), as he bring cash to the campaign - Romney will not pull in the south or Midwest which is critical. Some pundits cite Romney’s Mormon background as a hindrance, but in essence, it was his elite personality that did not win hearts in the Heartland. It is an historical fact that campaigns are won when the strategy of a united ticket (two individuals representing various regions of the country, one of which is the south).

With the focus on Obama’s view of Christianity as a liberal based religion, his support of Partial Birth Abortion and his newfound hard-line on Gay Marriage (he is now in favor of Civil Unions), being played daily in the press, the rank and file of the Christian Churches are paying attention. The congregations (Baptist, Evangelical, Catholic), are bringing their voices and concerns to the leaders and the message is clear. Conservatives cannot afford to take the chance that the Court may be lost and that Christian’s, as a group, do not trust Barrack Obama. The old adage, “The lesser of two evils” comes to mind.