Since the initial Reagan campaign in 1980, Republicans have carried the Catholic vote, basing their appeal on anti-abortion and other pro-family issues. The zenith came in 2004, when the Bush campaign had a national committee and 75 regional chairman targeting Catholic voters. They carried the Catholic vote 52-47%.
This was despite the fact that John Kerry was a Catholic. However, several Bishops advocated denying him communion, because he was pro-abortion. Kerry kept quiet, not wanting to further anger the Bishops, so the Bushies had the Catholic playing field to themselves.
A group of Catholic Bishops last year issued a doctrinal statement, that pro-life meant more than just abortion and made the traditional liberal argument that children's health care, welfare, immigration and similar issues were part of being pro-life.
Regardless of the dubious merits of that assertion, it found a ready audience in RINO (Republicans in Name Only) circles like
Pepperdine University law professor Doug Kmiec, a former Reagan justice department official, who this year is a Republican for Obama.
McCain has not had competent spiritual advisors on his campaign, so he accepted the endorsement of evangelist John Hagee, who calls the Catholic Church "the Whore of Babylon." McCain later denounced Hagee, but really has repelled evangelicals and church people with his petty fights with Focus on the Family's James Dobson and Pat Robertson. He still has no active effort underway to carry the Catholic or evangelical vote, so Obama, suspected by some of being a closet Muslim, but at least a very liberal Christian--has an open field in seeking the faith vote.
Oh ya, John and Cindy McCain did attend the North Phoenix Baptist Church last Sunday, getting their picture in the news. That and a $1.50 will get you a cup of coffee at McDonald's.
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