Conservative evangelicals discuss backing McCain
By ERIC GORSKI
Associated Press
July 3, 2008
Page 2 of 2
"Obama is a considerable threat to our values," Staver said. "At the same time, Sen. McCain recently has been reaching out to evangelicals and conservative voters that we represent."
Even so, Burress said that at this point, conservative Christians are motivated more out of opposition to Obama than enthusiasm for McCain.
"People are not saying, 'Let's all go out and support John McCain,'" Burress said. "It's more like, 'We have to do what we have to do for our country.' Basically, that boiled down to John McCain."
Although McCain opposes abortion rights, his support for embryonic stem cell research and opposition to a federal amendment prohibiting gay marriage clashes with the widely held social conservative view.
Obama this week called for expanding White House efforts to steer social service dollars to religious groups, and he has developed campaign events targeting religious voters. But the Democrat's support for abortion rights and gay rights calls into question how many evangelical votes he can win.
"The only evangelicals that will support Obama are the ones who haven't read their Bible," Burress said. "The more and more we learn about Obama, the closer and closer we get to McCain."
"We have agreed," he said, "that we'll be working hard the next two months."
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