Religious Right Searching For Candidate This Political Season
BOISE -- Eric Donahue is a hard-working member of Boise's conservative evangelical community.
And this presidential election, he -- and many conservative Christians like him -- are facing an unusual dilemma: who to vote for?
"It definitely is a bit harder, going into it now. Who do you pick?" Eric told CBS 2 Eyewitness News. "There's definitely more of a mix."
No single Republican candidate has a solid grip on the Religious Right's considerable support and the Reverend Pat Robertson's endorsement of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani dumbfounded many conservative Christians.
"Giuliani is pro-abortion, and pro-gay rights," said conservative Christian activist Bryan Fischer of Boise. "Those are simply non-starters for the majority of evangelicals."
Some pundits say it signals the end of the Religious Right's political influence but Fischer, whose own Idaho Values Alliance is in financial peril, disagrees.
"I think the political demise of the evangelical community in America is overstated," Fischer told CBS 2 Eyewitness News.
Still, some political experts say the Religious Right's traditional social agenda is taking a back seat to more pressing issues.
"The war is one," said Prof. John Freemuth with Boise State University's political science the environment, economy. those are what's driving people's votes."
And get this, Eric Donahue, who voted for President Bush last time, says if he had to decide now, he just might support...Democrat Barack Obama!
"I like what he wants to do with the economy and the poor," Eric said.
No wonder this is being called the most wide-open presidential race in recent American history.
And this presidential election, he -- and many conservative Christians like him -- are facing an unusual dilemma: who to vote for?
"It definitely is a bit harder, going into it now. Who do you pick?" Eric told CBS 2 Eyewitness News. "There's definitely more of a mix."
No single Republican candidate has a solid grip on the Religious Right's considerable support and the Reverend Pat Robertson's endorsement of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani dumbfounded many conservative Christians.
"Giuliani is pro-abortion, and pro-gay rights," said conservative Christian activist Bryan Fischer of Boise. "Those are simply non-starters for the majority of evangelicals."
Some pundits say it signals the end of the Religious Right's political influence but Fischer, whose own Idaho Values Alliance is in financial peril, disagrees.
"I think the political demise of the evangelical community in America is overstated," Fischer told CBS 2 Eyewitness News.
Still, some political experts say the Religious Right's traditional social agenda is taking a back seat to more pressing issues.
"The war is one," said Prof. John Freemuth with Boise State University's political science the environment, economy. those are what's driving people's votes."
And get this, Eric Donahue, who voted for President Bush last time, says if he had to decide now, he just might support...Democrat Barack Obama!
"I like what he wants to do with the economy and the poor," Eric said.
No wonder this is being called the most wide-open presidential race in recent American history.
