Local evangelicals show clout

By Rachel Zoll - Associated Press, analysis
Monday, January 07, 2008 - Web Link
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January 6, 2008

The stereotype has been around as long as the religious right: conservative Christians are sheep-like, monolithic, controlled by their leaders.

The Iowa Republican caucuses should finally put that myth to rest.

While most top evangelicals looked at everyone but Mike Huckabee in the presidential race — even floating the idea of a third-party candidate — born-again Iowa caucus-goers embraced him, helping the former Arkansas governor defeat his better-known, better-funded GOP rivals.

In 2008, the rank-and-file have taken charge.

"Some organizations that had been quite influential a few years ago, no longer seem to have that kind of influence," said John Green, senior fellow at the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. "In Iowa, you see new voices, you hear new names, you see new organizations."

Eighty-three percent of Huckabee's supporters in the caucuses identified themselves as born-again Christian or evangelical, according to a voter survey conducted for The Associated Press and TV networks. Huckabee won 46 percent of evangelical backing in the caucuses.

This, despite big-name conservative Christian endorsements for other Republicans. The Rev. Pat Robertson, a candidate for the Republican nomination in 1988, endorsed former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, saying he was the best candidate to fight terrorism. Paul Weyrich, a founder of the Moral Majority, backed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.