As I recall, the majority of atheists vote Democrat. And the majority of people who claim to be a [whatever religious label] but do not actually assemble with them or know the doctrines also vote Democrat.
When looking at the map colors after a general election, the most intensively believing populations vote conservative and predominately, Republican.
It's not about science, it's about inalienable rights granted by our Creator. It's about taking God seriously.
A voter either believes God or doesn't. If he doesn't, he is a social liberal even though he might be a fiscal conservative and "caucus" with us if it serves his self-interest.
I continue to be registered Republican because despite the liberal drift in the NorthEast (incl DC) - I believe the party can be turned around.
I remember when Texas was mostly Democrat, but the Republicans held their conservative ground.
Here in south-of-Chicago Illinois, the conservatives have stayed home for way too long. They became disgusted with the moral turpitude of the governor - and very sadly, are extremely slow to forgive.
Again, the conservative base is socially conservative first. When their candidates do not take God seriously and show it by being indicted/convicted of crimes or immoral behavior, they stay home - sometimes for many years.
On the national level, the 912 turnout no doubt shocked the Republicans and they may need a few more wake-up calls. But 2010 will be telling, whether they listened and field truly conservative candidates.
I hope so, dearest sister in Christ! But from my perch in Massachusetts, I'm not exactly holding my breath. The GOP "eats their own": See the dispute between David Frum and David Horowitz, for instance; or the one between Michael Steele et al. and Glenn Beck.
However, lately I'm increasingly coming to believe that the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law effectively made organized political parties irrelevant. In elections, the "real action" — financial and ideological — has devolved into the hands of "non-profit, non-partisan" private organizations which have zillions of ways to accumulate and move money around outside the direct purview of the FEC. They can collaborate and pool funds in selected races in ways forbidden to the official, organized parties.
Whatever the case, my prediction is the GOP can never recover, unless it re-embraces its conservative, largely Christian core. I figure they need us more than we need them.
As you can see, I'm feeling rather bitter about this situation. But then, the GOP has the magnificent reputation of always finding a way to shoot itself in its own foot.