Low turnout--evangelicals sat it out?

Powerline ^ | Nov. 8, 2012 | Steven Hayward

[fifedom]

Romney may underperform (or barely match) in turnout the listless McCain in 2008. According to exit polls Romney won white evangelicals by a four-to-one margin—as high or higher than George W. Bush in 2004. Could it have been that many evangelicals couldn’t bring themselves to vote for a Mormon, and simply stayed home?

[fifedom]

Unwad them knickers. Evangelicals turned out 80 percent for Mitt. More than any other demographic. Even more then Mormons!

I followed the links to the original article. The source is hardly un-biased. It comes from a survey by Ralph reed's organization, who have a vested interest in making themselves look successful.

If Reed is correct, how do you explain that the latest numbers indicate Romney got fewer votes than McCain?

[Responsibility2nd]

What difference does it make? Are YOU assuming Christians are responsible for Romney getting fewer votes than McCain? And if you care to notice - the chart is a Pew Research Groups chart. And if was Ralph Reed’s? Should we just throuw it out, because - after all - he’s one of them evangelicals?

And how do YOU explain that the latest numbers indicate Obama (2012) got fewer (8 million fewer) votes than Obama (2008)?

I credit Evangelicals. If only there were more of us. If only the GOP didn’t kick us to the curb.

[fifedom]

Is your post # 1 part of the article?

Yes the first post is the article.

You can call it bashing evangelicals but the question remains why is the vote total lower? I do to think it is bashing anyone to ask the question whether it was due to lower turnout among a group. If they did not turn out and they did vote in previous elections, then what is the reason?

It may be as you have stated that Romney was too liberal for them, but do you think Romney is more liberal than McCain?

[tennmountainman]

Could it be that the Romney’s strategy of ignoring conservatives by chasing
moderates and independents on both sides was a failed strategy?

Me thinks so.

[fifedom]

Are YOU assuming Christians are responsible for Romney getting fewer votes than McCain?

I do not know and neither does the article state that is true.

And if you care to notice - the chart is a Pew Research Groups chart. And if was Ralph Reed’s? Should we just throuw it out, because - after all - he’s one of them evangelicals?

I was referring to the article in The Christian Post that I found by follwing your link twice removed. Don't get YOUR knickers in a wad. I am not bashing evamgelicals. I am asking a question.

If the lower turnout was due to some other reason, then that is also important. Perhaps as has been suggested in this thread it was because Romney is too moderate. But more moderate than McCain??

[SaraJohnson]

This is all in this Rino’s imagination. He does not even offer evangelical voting stats to base this rant upon.

When you run a progressive liberal against a progressive liberal, it might turn some people off. The GOP knew that when they ran Mittens. They knew Obamacare was based on Romneycare andthat Americans rejected Obamacare (a big economic issue).

It’s over for the two party system now. We have a socialist health care system that has total control over life and death. We have a police state/KGB rapidly coming of age and naming Americans their enemy. We have an open system of liberal racism. From the looks of Europe, political competitions are based on teams of disgusting elitists fighting to eat the white corpse of the West they slayed.

[Responsibility2nd]

Is Romney more liberal than McCain? That is a darn good question. I’m late for an appointment, but when I get a chance, I’ll put some thought into that and get back to you.

[blueunicorn6]

Well, it’s clear that when the evangelicals do vote, they vote strongly for conservatives. I realize that Free Republic is a conservative Catholic site, but maybe the bigger question is “What are the numbers for Catholic voters?”

[Colofornian]

I just read things indicating the Evangelical turnout was as high as ever, now it is being doubted again? Does anyone actually KNOW or is this based on “exit polls” again or what? [Crimson Elephant]

Well, thus far the best source I've found that at least provides indicators as to how many Evangelicals voted is Pew Forum's exit polls: How the Faithful Voted: 2012 Preliminary Analysis

Per Pew Forum's exit polls, were white Evangelicals a greater part of the 2012 voting block vs. 2008 and 2004? Or less?

Answer? Well, I just crunched the rough #s based upon Pew Forum's exit polls...and more -- not less -- white Evangelicals voted in 2012...than either in 2008 or 2004.

It looks like almost 31 million white Evangelicals voted in 2012; compared to about 30 million in 2008, and compared to about 26 & 1/4 million in 2004.

How did white Evangelicals compare to other voter segments...in staying home or not?

Answer: They were 24% of the voting block in 2012; 23% in 2008; 21% in 2004.

Which religious voter groups turned out significantly less in 2012? (a) OTHER white Protestants -- not Evangelicals; (b) white Catholics

Per Pew Forum white Protestants dropped from 42% of the pie in 2008 to 39% in 2012...keep in mind, tho, that the mainline denominations are "aging" & unless a Dem "resurrects" a dead voter, they don't vote from the grave...

Still, 42% of about 132,654 (2008) vs. 39% of about 128 million is a drop-off of over 4 million voters!

Also, white Catholics dropped from 19% in 2008 to 18% in 2012...Because the voter pool was smaller in 2012, that's about 2 million LESS white Catholics turning out...(I estimate a drop from just over 25 million to just over 23 million)...obviously some of them died and weren't replaced by younger Catholic voters.

Note also that Pew Forum's exit polling showed that more white Evangelicals, %-wise, voted for Romney than even Mormons! Pew Forum says the breakdowns were 79-20% by white Evangelicals; and 78-21% by Lds!

CNN exit polls for votes by white Evangelicals were similar (78-21% Romney)

White Catholics voted Romney 59-40%...but because of Latino Catholics, the overall Catholic vote went to Obama (50-48%)

[hosepipe]

As it turns out... running the inventor of Romney-Care against the inventor of Obama-Care for President was not too good of an idea..

ONLY one word can be used to express this situation..
DUUUUUUUUUUUGGH!.. (you buy them books they eat the pages)..

**note; I'm joining a party that don't have morons in charge of it..

[dforest]

Most of the Evangelicals are in states Romney won. Many voted for him.

Ohio vote total right here.

Democratic

Barack Obama

Joe Biden

2,691,861

50.18%

18

Republican

Mitt Romney

Paul Ryan

2,584,620

48.18%

0

Libertarian

Gary Johnson

Jim Gray

47,191

0.88%

0

Green

Jill Stein

Cheri Honkala

17,814

0.33%

0

Independent

Richard Duncan

12,099

0.23%

0

Totals

5,364,324

100.00%

18

Romney didn’t lose by much, so I doubt evangelicals were the real reason. Romney only lost by a little over 107,000 votes. Gary Johnson peeled off 47,000. Some more were peeled off with fraud.

[Colofornian]

...maybe the bigger question is “What are the numbers for Catholic voters?”

See post #29...

Because of the Hispanic vote for Obama (71-27%), latino Catholics shifted the overall Catholic vote...White Catholics voted Romney 59-40%...overall Catholic vote was 50-48% Obama...

But it appears white Catholics dropped their turnout by about 2 million voters...

[Colofornian]

Romney didn’t lose by much, so I doubt evangelicals were the real reason

I've seen one U.S. map from yesterday that had interesting red and blue dots by regional areas...was posted by a Mormon...

The only place it appeared where an Evangelical drop-off occurred that allowed a sudden swath of blue to appear was the Deep South.

That blue swath runs from Louisiana to North Carolina...and seemed to be most prominent in Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina.

Now, those are states where voters knew that Romney would win quite handily...so they didn't see their votes as "key." And...it didn't effect a single electoral vote ... IOW I didn't see that same blue swath show up in Florida...except for a few dots toward the inland swamps in furthest south Florida...(NW of Miami)

[svcw]

Could it have been that many evangelicals couldn’t bring themselves to vote for a Mormon,

I am so sick and tired of this question....This is the correct question.......COULD IT HAVE BEEN THAT MANY EVANGELICALS COULDN’T BRING THEMSELVES TO VOTE FOR A LYING SACK OF CRAP LIBERAL ROMNEY??????

Bravo

[sockmonkey]

Could it have been that many evangelicals couldn’t bring themselves to vote for a Mormon, and simply stayed home?

I know someone who attends "The Cowboy Church" (a subsidiary of the Southern Baptist Convention, IIRC)..

That person voted for Gary Johnson..
I was incredulous..A Baptist voting for legalized drugs and prostitution, pro choice..

[Tennessee Nana]

Romney won white evangelicals by a four-to-one margin—
_____________________________________________

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Mormons voted for Willard by the same margin...about 4 to 1...

Those extra Mormons who didnt vote for Willard are obviously BIGOTS...

[SaraJohnson]

Thanks. I suspected it was an anti-Christian rino kook rant. I’ve seen a few of them since the election.

When the rinos lose, it’s time for the pin the tail on the evangelical Christian game. They had Palin to blame last time.

They are also blaming the only successful aspect of politics that have enpowered the GOP - the Tea Party.

[metmom]

Could it be voter fraud, tampering with electronic voting machines, lost ballots?

Nooooooo.......

It’s got to be anti-Mormon bigotry.

What a bunch of whiney, cry baby martyrs.

Too bad, so sad. The martyr complex does not wear well on Mormons with THEIR history.

And I don’t know of a person who objected to Mitt’s religion as much as his pro-abortion, pro-homosexual marriage, Romneycare, big government past policies, and who believe for a minute he really changed his position.

[metmom]

I am so sick and tired of this question....This is the correct question.......COULD IT HAVE BEEN THAT MANY EVANGELICALS COULDN’T BRING THEMSELVES TO VOTE FOR A LYING SACK OF CRAP LIBERAL ROMNEY?????? It had nothing to do with Mormonism. I am neither Mormon or Evangelical.

Well, I am an Evangelical, and you are exactly right. It wasn't his Mormonism.

[Tennessee Nana]

Hevk if even the Mormonbs think Willard is stinko...

why are you complaining about other religions ???

This Christian didnt vote for Willard either...

Me and the Mormons agree...

stranger things have happened...