I ran into former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert just before he was about to go on the radio. He agreed with my hunch: evangelicals are more excited about Sarah Palin than John McCain.
“I wasn’t necessarily a McCain guy, but I think [the vice presidential pick] is certainly quintessential John McCain. That’s what the American people are looking to, and that’s what his vice presidential choice was: non-conventional and somebody who I think represents the quintessential American family. The kids aren’t going to Ivy League schools, the son got out of high school and went into the army at 18-years-old, so it’s something that people can relate to. And even the problems the family has are problems every family has, someone down the street, or somebody at our church, or in the neighborhood.
It seems like evangelicals are more excited about Sarah Palin than McCain. What do you think?
I think so, and I think that’s kind of typical. I just watched my wife and she just kind of lit up. She just thinks it’s really amazing.
What about evangelicals, do you think their agenda is broadening, and if it is, will that help Barack Obama get votes?
Where you really look at evangelical responsibility, I think the evangelical creeds [emphasize] individual choices and individual responsibilities. John McCain and Sarah Palin represent that much more than Obama. Obama believes that government is good for people, it ought to make decisions for people and it’s all encompassing
What about Obama’s religious outreach? He’s done a lot.
Well it’s because he has to, because he doesn’t have any otherwise.”
