Posted on 10/31/2006 1:31:23 PM PST by presidio9
In the final stretch before Election Day, embattled Republicans feel as though they have received a gift from an unlikely donor: advocates of gay marriage.
They think that last week’s ruling by New Jersey’s Supreme Court ordering equal rights for gay couples — seven of whom had sued for the right to marry — is re-energizing Christian conservatives, who had been losing interest in politics. Republicans predict that could draw more conservatives to the polls next week, especially in the eight states that will vote on proposed amendments to their state constitutions to ban gay marriage.
Among the eight states are Virginia and Tennessee, which have close Senate races that could decide which party controls the Senate next year. The other states are Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Getting conservative Christians to the polls also could help Republicans in some close races for the House of Representatives, such as the one in Virginia’s 2 nd Congressional District. It’s home to Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network and Regent University and includes a large number of Christian conservatives.
"It will improve turnout on our side," said Rep. Thelma Drake, R-Va., who’s in a close re-election battle with Democrat Phil Kellam.
Nearby, Sen. George Allen, R-Va., visited two largely black churches Sunday, where he invoked the New Jersey ruling as a reminder of the need to pass the proposed amendment to the Virginia state constitution banning gay marriage.
"The Supreme Court decision in New Jersey this week showed even more importantly to the people of Virginia why the Virginia marriage-protection amendment is so important," he said afterward.
President Bush added the gay marriage issue to his standard campaign-rally speech yesterday. He drew cheers from crowds in Georgia and Texas by telling them, "We believe marriage is a union between a man and a woman and should be defended."
After years of growing political participation and helping Republicans win, Christian conservatives have been pulling back this year, frustrated by their inability to win significant victories in public policy such as a ban on abortion, and perhaps disillusioned by the sex scandal involving Rep. Mark Foley and House pages.
One sign: The ranks of Christian conservatives with favorable views of the party dropped from 74 percent two years ago to 54 percent this year, according to the Pew Research Center.
"Evangelicals remain the party’s most supportive group, but at levels significantly diminished from where they were in the 2002 and 2004 elections," a Pew analysis said.
Incessant Anti-American pablum sink newspaper readership!
Actually John Kerry's stupidity yesterday and today probably is doing the Democrats more harm
ping
The court did its best to make it look like it was voting against gay marriage. But the bottom line is that the effect of the opinion is the same as the effect of the Vermont decision. They extended all of the benefits of marriage to gay couples. They just left it to the legislature whether it should be called "marriage."
I am surprised that Webb went ahead of Allen after his his writings were revealed. On poster (I forgot who) wondered if there were that many pedophiles in Virginia.
"In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way."
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Whatever helps.
But by whom? Does this mean maybe Karl Rove really did it after all?
"Among the eight states [is]...Wisconsin."
Trust me. It is totally energizing the base in this state. We are the most evenly split state red/blue. I'll be working the polls and it's going to be a zoo here in Dane County.
We also have a referrendum on the Death Penalty (non-binding) and if we had been able to get Concealed Carry on the ballot (Gov. Doyle vetoed it twice) we'd have had a trifecta and EVERY eligible conservative voter in this state would've been coming out to vote.
We'll do what we can. I'm predicting as big of a voter turnout as in '04...with as much nefarious treachery and voter fraud in Dane and Milwaukee Counties by the Left. *SIGH*
I'm sure it helped in New Jersey. Not sure it would have helped anywhere else in the U.S.
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