Obama Evangelical South

Although the American South is typically considered a Republican stronghold, Barack Obama's campaign is reportedly looking to campaign aggressively there during the 2008 Presidential election. One way in which the Obama campaign hopes to attract evangelical voters in the South is to promise to expand the government's faith-based initiative programs begun by the Bush Administration.

Fast Facts

1. Obama hopes to do better among evangelicals than John Kerry
2. Kerry won only one out of every five evangelical voters¹
3. Obama proposes creation of Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships²
4. Obama promises to expand faith-based initiative programs
5. Some experts see little chance of Obama winning southern states³

Obama's Chances Among Evangelicals

Obama has been advocating that the Democratic Party reach out to evangelical voters since at least 2006.⁴ Many experts feel that the major obstacle Obama faces in winning evangelicals is his support for abortion rights and gay rights. However, the Obama campaign believes it can possibly win the states of North Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi by wooing some of the evangelical vote while at the same time encouraging heavy voter registration among black voters and younger voters.⁵

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