The old Republican “values voters” are alive and well, and, ironically, their appeal isn’t lost on the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama.
The percentage of Republicans calling moral values in the U.S. poor has risen from 36 percent to 51 percent since 2006, according to Gallup Polls, which hasn’t registered a comparable change among independents and Democrats, who have hovered around 38 percent.
“Republicans’ disaffection with the nation’s moral climate - but not Democrats’ or independents’ - has been elevated over the past two years, A number of ’values’ issues have been in the news in recent years, including gay marriage, pop-star misbehavior, and reports of high-profile elected officials involved in sex-related scandals, but it is unclear that any of these are responsible for the pattern in the data,” said Lydia Saad, an analyst with Gallup Polls.
“Whatever the cause, this may signal that Republicans will be particularly anxious to elect a new president this November who will help to uphold or restore the values they now find lacking in the country,” she added.
Mr. Obama is well aware of the trend and appears to be borrowing from an old Republican playbook, framing his candidacy on topics including “ethics,” “faith” and “family” at his campaign Web site.
The site of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain does not include such topics.
Mr. Obama’s volunteer roster includes a whole division called Faith Community Contacts. A recent Obama fundraiser sponsored by the Matthew 25 Network - a new political action committee composed of liberal Christians - seeks support from moderate evangelicals, Catholics, Protestants and Hispanic Catholics. Mr. Obama also recently met in Chicago with 30 high-profile religious leaders.
“Obama is reaching out to people of faith,” said CNN political director Paul Steinauser - particularly “disaffected” evangelicals.
It has not gone unnoticed.
“The Democrats have learned how to reach out to religious voters. I think Republicans have forgotten,” said Michael P. Farris, chancellor of the conservative Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Va., and co-founder of the Home School Legal Defense Association.
Mr. McCain is trying to change the perception among some Republican stalwarts that he is “out of touch” with basic conservative tenets and family values - and that he did not personally reach out to faith leaders.
On Friday, Mr. McCain met privately in Philadelphia with the Rev. Frank Pavone, president of Priests for Life, and a group of Catholic voters.
Still, the competition for “values voters,” evangelicals or undecided conservatives is just beginning; the groups are fickle and their opinions fluid.
Rasmussen Reports data released June 8 show that public perceptions of the rival candidates are “shifting rapidly” and will continue right through Election Day.
In December, 47 percent of voters nationwide considered Mr. Obama liberal. The number has since risen to 67 percent.
“A similar pattern is seen for John McCain. The presumptive Republican nominee was seen as politically conservative by 31 percent of all voters in December…and by 67 percent today,” the Rasmussen analysis said.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.