I’ve been telling the national media for years now that unlike Iowa Christians, South Carolina Evangelicals are a diverse lot, particularly when the candidates have similar positions on social issues.
I’ve also said that within Evangelicalism in the Palmetto State there is a Movement Conservative element that is more self-conscious and to a greater extent see themselves engaged in a culture war versus a biblical but more worldly Rotarian Evangelical group.
In the South Carolina Republican Primary, Newt Gingrich penetrated down through the Rotarians and deep into the Movement on Saturday.
Exit polls showed Evangelicals making up about 65% of South Carolina Republican Voters. Newt won 44%, Romney 21% and Santorum 21%.
But, at the Bob Jones University precinct in Greenville, the aggressively social issue candidate Rick Santorum eked out only a 15 vote victory. The finally tally at Greenville 27 was Gingrich 31%, Santorum 34%, Romney 18%, and Paul 17%. An impressive showing amongst religious conservatives for a guy whose adultery led the presidential debate two days before.
The combination of a desire to draw a sharp contrast with the incumbent president and hatred of mainstream media were factors in the Gingrich win among the hard core. It was as if even the strictest South Carolina Evangelicals were saying: “The war is on. The bullets are flying. We are pinned down on the beach and you want to know about the commander’s personal life? Get back to us later on that…if we survive.”
But another clue may be found in the words of a popular Christian catch phrase found on automobile bumpers all across South Carolina. That phrase? “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.”
Related articles
- Newt Gingrich Wins South Carolina (caffeinatedthoughts.com)
- Gingrich Credits Palin for South Carolina Boost (sarahpalinblog.typepad.com)
- Political Reporter Jack Fink: Gingrich’s S.C. Win ‘Changes Everything’ (dfw.cbslocal.com)
- A Close Look at Newt Gingrich’s Landlside Victory in South Carolina (whitehouse12.com)
- Santorum Will Remain in the Race Regardless of Where He Finishes In South Carolina (whitehouse12.com)
- GOP Race Turns to New Terrain in Florida (tampa.cbslocal.com)
1 comment
What would happen if it did not have to be culture warriors verses Rotarians? “Tastes Great/Less Filling!!”
Why, in my opinion are evangelicals (culture warriors/rotarians) soooo blind? George W. Bush was a favorite to win the GOP nomination because he was an oilman (Rotarian progressive) with just a little help (too cute phrase towards evangelicals) from his “favorite philosopher” to sooth the culture warriors.
Former Gov. Sarah Palin is the only one in America that can bring together evangelicals who are Rotarian and culture warriors. Palin knows Oil inside and out.
One of the most interesting lines in Oran Smith’s article is this. “It was as if the strictest South Carolina Evangelicals were saying “The War is on. The bullets are flying. We are pinned down on the Beach and you want us to know about the commander’s personal life? Get back to us later on that…if we survive.”
Sadly some evangelicals were/have been “Hornswaggled on the Gender issue of Gov. Palin. The Gospel has advanced in every country no matter the gender of the leader. That should be of paramount importance to center/right evangelicals.
The three groups she brings together are free market conservatives “Sarah Takes on Big Oil Kay Cashman” Libertarians: endorsement of Rand Paul and Conservative Christians. “The Faith and Values of Sarah Palin Mansfield/Holland.
vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8a93-l1fTM
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