Losing faith in Democrats' religious outreach

[rug]

By RACHEL ZOLL, AP Religion Writer – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — In 2008, Barack Obama took aim at the "pew gap," the overwhelming Republican edge among voters who regularly attend church.

The Democratic presidential nominee came nowhere near closing it, but he didn't have to. He just needed an extra percentage point or two among traditional GOP constituents, and he got it.

The Democratic National Committee is promising a repeat performance in 2012. But some religious leaders and scholars who backed Obama in 2008 are skeptical. They say the Democrats have, through neglect and lack of focus, squandered the substantial gains they made with religious moderates and worry it will hurt Obama in a tight race against Republican Mitt Romney.

The DNC's faith outreach director, the Rev. Derrick Harkins, said the party has strong relationships with religious groups. But as evidence of their concerns, critics point to the public debate that followed Obama's endorsement of gay marriage, a decision the president said was based in part on his Christian faith.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hk0MoQrKLy84NPQQ0dst8ORJzsbw?docId=7852155b732141ebbff942ca567c864e

[Angry Dragon]

1. I hear all the time from republicans that Muslims are close

to taking over this country so it would fit to try to appeal to them

[cbayer]

2. He's never going to get the fundies, but this would be a good time to focus

on Catholics and catholic women in particular.