Evangelical vote considered key in Bush re-election

When Karl Rove, the architect of President Bush’s successful re-election campaign, made turning out evangelical voters a top priority, it appears he made a wise decision.

Most remember that Bush narrowly won the 2000 presidential election against Al Gore, squeaking out a victory in the Electoral College, but actually losing the popular vote. Rove estimated that nearly four million evangelical Christians didn’t show up at the polls in 2000, a significant number that nearly cost Bush the election. The man who Bush describes as the “Boy Wonder” was determined that it wouldn’t happen again.

Rove set out to mobilize Bush’s base, and organized a massive effort to register evangelical Christians, and make sure that registered voters showed up on Nov. 2. It sure looks like they did.

The president won the popular vote on Nov. 2 by more than four million, while Republicans picked up seats in both the Senate and House, bolstering their majority in Congress.

Early exit polls showed that morality was the number one thing on most voters’ minds when they entered the polls. A CNN analysis of voting trends found that moral issues trumped the war on terrorism, as well as the war in Iraq. Those who cited morality as the driving force behind their votes backed Bush by 79 percent. Only 18 percent of Kerry-supporters cited morality as their primary concern.

But Karl Rove didn’t do it alone. A handful of key evangelical leaders also played a major role in impressing the importance of voting on the minds of Christians.

Dr. James Dobson - president of Focus on the Family - headed up an unprecedented voter registration and education effort for his ministry. Dobson was elated at Bush’s victory.

“This election is a resounding victory in the battle for American families,” Dobson said. ‘We applaud the re-election of President Bush, who has shown himself a true champion for the family and traditional values. Those who care deeply about the moral issues facing this nation have cause to be encouraged by the prospect of the Bush administration promoting policies supportive of these values throughout his second term.”

Gary Bauer - president of the pro-family group American Values - was also pleased with Bush’s victory, and said the election results prove that the nation isn’t as divided as the mainstream media has portrayed.

“For too long, liberal pundits have been telling us that issues like marriage and life divide us as a people,” Bauer said. “But it’s clear that while those issues may be controversial, they are not divisive.

— E.P. News