When I've posted about Obama's ability to change the November electoral map (here, here and here), I wasn't thinking about his religous life story. Could his conversion to Christianity be a heretofore "secret weapon" he is only now starting to deploy?
In this important post, David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network thinks it might be and that his buddies on the religious right would do well to not ignore it:
In Kentucky, he is making a direct appeal to Evangelicals with flyersthat mention his conversion experience and they highlight a big old cross ...
The Obama campaign has consistently believed that their candidate can compete for the "religious vote". A lot has been made about how Obama hasn’t done as well with Catholics compared to Clinton. But let’s remember one thing: Obama has a story to tell about how Jesus came into his life. You can bet we will be hearing more details about it on the stump in the fall. (if Obama is the nominee)
Meanwhile, John McCain won’t be partaking in the "Evangelical speak" or handing out these types of flyers in the south which makes you wonder if Huckabee could help McCain shore up the Evangelical base and at the same time play to the Independent middle with his populist streak.
I know the conservative policy purists will say that Obama is liberal and therefore Evangelicals won’t buy his "Evangelical speak". Not so fast. Remember, many people vote based on an emotional connection to a candidate or if they can relate to that person. Obama may need to work on this perception that he is "elite" but when he talks about Jesus and the Bible and the fact that he’s a sinner, it makes him more real and in the process, more electable too.
While I believe that politicians who wear their religion on their sleeve generally do so simply to win votes, in this case I don't have that concern. For one thing, given how late in the game this new pitch is appearing, when the nomination is assured and Rev Wright is gone from the headlines, it is hard to claim he plays on his religion at the drop of a hat or adversity.
Second and more importantly, I think that this approach has been legitmated, perhaps even made necessary, by the persistent, pernicious rumors of Obama being a Muslim (see Some Old White People Know the Truth About Obama). How else can you respond to these rumors but by actively showing they are not true?
Could this new approach put more Southern or "heartland" states more in play? And even if it doesn't turn the whole state, could it help negate the inevitable "Obama is liberal" GOP fear mongering, lessen Evangelical turnout and help Dems further down the ticket? What do you think?