MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

LIFEWAY: About Half of Protestant Pastors Will Vote for John McCain

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Mon, November 03, 2008
Viewed 47
(12) comments so far

Only 36 percent of mainline pastors plan to vote for McCain. Thirty-seven percent support Obama, and 24 percent are undecided.

“Protestant pastors are strongly for McCain, though that changes when you look at mainline versus evangelicals,” said Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research. “Mainline pastors reflect the American setting – they are split between Obama and McCain. Self-identified evangelical pastors are overwhelmingly for McCain.”

Stetzer added that given the late date in the campaign, “there are a surprising number of undecideds.”

Does this surprise you?

In case you didn't know how you should vote, Lifeway Research has done an extensive research study (between October 10-28) and found that about half of Protestant pastors say they plan to vote for John McCain. But... McCain still holds a substantial lead over Democrat Barack Obama, for whom less than one-quarter of pastors polled indicate they will vote.

The survey conducted by LifeWay Research found that 55 percent of Protestant pastors plan to vote for McCain compared with 20 percent for Obama. A full 22 percent are undecided.

Evangelical pastors are significantly more likely to support McCain than their mainline counterparts. Sixty-six percent of self-identified evangelicals plan to vote for McCain while 13 percent are for Obama and 19 percent are undecided...

Comments

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Peter Hamm on Mon, November 03, 2008

I’m amazed at how many Christians I know and know of, evangelical or not, who are softening their positions on things that have been sacrosanct before… during this particular election season… could it be a sign of just how dissatisfied they are with the GOP?
Bart on Mon, November 03, 2008

Peter,

Perhaps it is becuse they see the inability of a political party to solve these things. We recently had a republican president, house, and senate but could not accomplish anything on abortion, a mainstay of hte republican party. My contention is that the republican party does NOT want to change the big 3 (abortion, homosexual marriage, activist judges) because then what would fire up the conservative Christian to vote. The remianing issues that motivate Christians are things like healthcare, education, poverty, etc. that the democratic party has been active in and apears to have the corner on the market in these issues.
CS on Mon, November 03, 2008

Peter and Bart:

What I find is interesting is how many people are turning to the American Constitution Party and voting for Baldwin / Castle this year because of the same dissatisfaction to which you refer. To vote Democrat is to largely support abortion and homosexuality. To vote Republican is to largely support corruption. So, those who stuck with the GOP have now found their place within the ACP.

—

CS
Mark Forstrom on Mon, November 03, 2008

It’s interesting that the survey only had three options: Obama, McCain or Undecided.

I’m a pastor and I’m not at all undecided. I’m planning to vote for Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party because in my view his values and priorities most closely match those of the Bible.

I know he won’t win, but I’ve decided that i can never again vote for any candidate I’m significantly at odds with simply as a means to defeat another candidate whom I’m more at odds with.
Jim on Mon, November 03, 2008

Many of us are not thrilled with John McCain, but I will vote for him, even though some independent candidates have better positions. Yet, a vote for an independent is a vote for Obama, and is essentially throwing away one’s vote, since the independents have no chance of winning. So, do we throw away a vote and get Obama, or do we hope that Sarah Palin can have an influence on McCain in the right direction, which I think she can and will, especially on policies that have moral consequences?
Jan on Mon, November 03, 2008

I’m with you Jim.
Pastor Dan on Mon, November 03, 2008

Jim - well said!
fishon on Mon, November 03, 2008

Jim,

I just voted for Baldwin, for just the reasons stated by Bart. “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.”

Let me see now, I believe in Oregon there were 6 names to choose from, I chose one. You mean because I chose who I think would be best it is a throw away vote?

Jim, if someone doesn’t have a chance to win and you vote for that person, by your senario voting for McCain in Oregon would be throwing away your vote—therefore I should vote for Obama because McCain has no chance of winning, here.

fishon
Ed Stetzer on Mon, November 03, 2008

Mark,

Please read the research and not the blog posts.

Baldwin polls at less than 1%.

Ed Stetzer
Mark Forstrom on Mon, November 03, 2008

Thanks, Ed. I couldn’t get the link to work.

Glad your survey was more thorough than Todd’s blog made it out to be!

Then I’m proud to be counted in the less than 1 % backing Baldwin!
fishon on Mon, November 03, 2008

Mark,

I am with you. I don’t care about % any more. I am 61 and have been fooled too many times in the past. And surveys, who cares! In fact, in some of the lates surveys and polls, Jesus doesn’t come out so good. Hum, I wonder what that says?

One of the proud 1%. Not one of the “I voted for the lesser of two evils crowd.” Before any of you get in an uproar, I didn’t call all of you as being a part of the crowd; only you who held you nose and voted for the less….”

fishon
Dave on Mon, November 03, 2008

I want to vote for Alan Keyes (he’s on the ballot here in California), but since he has no chance to win, I’ll vote McCain.

People like to say that the GOP has done nothing to overturn Roe V. Wade (see comments in the Palin thread), but one more Supreme Court justice would probably tip that balance. Sure won’t happen with Obama in office.

Dave