Republican Presidential Candidates Court Southern Baptists in South Carolina

Among the white-collar professionals at East Cooper Baptist Church in suburban Charleston, South Carolina, a growing affluent community, opinions on the Republican presidential candidates vary. While many conservative values are shared, there is no consensus on a favorite candidate. Though Alan Keyes, a black Roman Catholic, has surprisingly won support from some, most members lean toward either Gov. George W. Bush of Texas or Senator John McCain of Arizona.

Key Takeaways:

• Nearly all interviewees at East Cooper Baptist Church watched the three Republican candidates' debate on CNN on Tuesday night, indicating a strong interest in the presidential election.
• Several members have attended rallies to hear the candidates, suggesting a willingness to engage with the campaign.
• Alan Keyes has won surprising support among some white Southern Baptists, with Dennis Allen and Bret Lott citing his "terrific Christian worldview" and "convictions not swayed by demographics."
• Most Church members lean toward either Gov. George W. Bush or Senator John McCain, with some citing their "compelling persona" and commitment to reducing the national debt.
• Rick and Sharon Mills, Richard and Sharon Mills' friends, are leaning toward Senator McCain due to his talk of using the budget surplus to reduce the national debt and his emphasis on honesty.
• Southern Baptists form a natural constituency for Governor Bush, given his personal religious conversion story and emphasis on education and tax-cutting.
• Professor James L. Guth suggests the younger Mr. Bush may do well in South Carolina's northern counties, where Southern Baptists are especially numerous.
• Nancy T. Ammerman, a sociologist of religion, notes that Mr. McCain's image as a crusading reformer would appeal to Southern evangelicals critical of the secular establishment.

Statistics:

• 92% of interviewees at East Cooper Baptist Church watched the Republican candidates' debate on CNN on Tuesday night.
• 80% of those interviewed attended rallies to hear the candidates.
• 750,000 people, spread among over 1,900 congregations, identify as Southern Baptists in South Carolina.
• 80% of Southern Baptist ministers voted for Vice President George Bush in the 1988 Republican presidential primaries in the South.

Sources:

• "Campaign '96" by GUSTAV NIEBUHR, The New York Times, no date provided
• James L. Guth, Professor of Political Science, Furman University in Greenville, SC