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Sunday, May 10th, 2015

GOP Candidates’ Quest for the Highly Religious Protestant Vote

Author:     Frank Newport
Source:     The Gallup Organization
Publication Date:     May 8, 2015
 Link: GOP Candidates’ Quest for the Highly Religious Protestant Vote
Stephan:   Here is the Gallup Organization's take on what I call the Corporatist Theocratic Right (CTR). It is this group of people, and the politicians they elect that constitute the greatest danger facing the country today because these are the politicians who are blocking rational fact-based social policies. Just look at the candidates for the Republican nomination for President. Not one of them is competent to be President. Hillary Clinton has her own problems, and I do not like, nor was American designed for, dynastic politics. Which is why SR supports Senator Bernie Sanders for President.

Mike Huckabee’s official entrance into the Republican race for president this week underscores the importance of a particular segment of the Republican population — highly religious Protestant voters. Often called evangelicals, this segment is clearly the key target for Huckabee’s campaign. Huckabee attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, is a former Baptist minister, and as was the case in 2008, he clearly perceives this religious background to be a particular strength. Huckabee is not the only one vying for the affection of the highly religious Protestant segment, of course. Ted Cruz made his announcement in front of the student body at the evangelical Liberty University in Virginia. Jeb Bush will be making his own trek to Liberty University as the commencement speaker on May 9. Potential presidential candidate Scott Walker has been emphasizing his religious upbringing in Plainfield, Iowa, as the son of a Baptist preacher.

The term “evangelical” is a loose one, and there are a number of different ways to define it, including simply asking respondents if they are “evangelical.” For the purposes of this analysis, I’m looking at Republicans and independents who lean Republican who identify their denomination as Protestant or some other non-Catholic, […]

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1 Comment

  1. Anne Borreggine on Sunday, May 10, 2015 at 5:29 am

    Thank you for this great article.

    I’m a seminary graduate, brought up R. Catholic and am now a progressive Protestant, who states, “I ‘ain’t’ interested in any of these candidates…in fact, they turn me off.” Bernie is a statesman of the highest calibre. I plan to volunteer on his campaign. God bless and I bless Bernie. Ad multos annos!