Dobson Says Huckabee Win Displays Power Of Christian Conservatives

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Mike Huckabee

Ever since the 2006 midterm elections, there have been suggestions that the influence of Christian conservatives on U.S. presidential politics is waning.

But today Focus on the Family founder James Dobson said the Iowa caucus results suggested otherwise.

Mike Huckabee, a former Baptist minister, easily won the GOP vote in Iowa. Roughly 80 percent of his supporters identified themselves as born again or evangelical Christians.

`The results of the Iowa caucuses reveal that conservative Christians remain a powerful force in American politics. That had to be a great shock to those on the far left,'' Dobson said in a release, according to the Associated Press.

The AP reports that Dobson was critical of "media elites" for writing off Christian conservatives and suggested Huckabee's win "`was evidence of an energized and highly motivated conservative community."

The national influence of Christian conservatives in this presidential cycle is still yet to be seen, however. And a tough test for Huckabee will come in New Hampshire, the next state on the voting calendar. It is expected that a far smaller percentage of GOP voters in the Granite State will self-identify as evangelical Christians compared to Iowa, were entrance polls found that almost 60 percent of GOP caucus-goers described themselves as evangelical.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by athanatsius January 7, 2008 6:10 AM EST: In response to the reader who called evangelicals, protestants, and homeschoolers among "the lowest common denominator of voters," your insults, name calling and obvious hatred are evidence of the polar opposite of your claim.

Huckabee appears to demonstrate the compassion and love of Christ to the poor, to immigrants, to the environment, and to to the unborn, while upholding high moral principles. This appeals to evangelicals such as myself, who are not as concerned with fiscal conservatism as with justice, compassion and mercy. Huckabee was not endorsed by the Republican establishment or by most prominent Christian leaders, demonstrating that most of the evangelical block thinks for itself, sees through so-called "christian" leaders who seek to manipulate them for their own selfish ends, and is a powerful voting block.; Reply to this comment


by giantrobot2 January 6, 2008 9:46 PM EST: New Hamphire voters can really relate to Huckabee. He is fun to be around, plays the guitar and makes people feel good.

New Hampshire voters have always been right there in the middle of the left right specturm. That''s exactly where Huckabee stands. It''s a direct match with New Hampshire voters.; Reply to this comment


by chfromiowa January 5, 2008 8:08 PM EST: I would also like the press to investigate Huckabee for the bigot that he has shown himself to be while stumping here in Iowa. I was shocked by the subtle anti-Mormon slant he took. It was repulsive and I am so sad that Iowans fell in step with it. I cannot believe Iowa really is the backwoods, closed-minded place that it is stereotyped as. I cannot believe America would support a hatemonger like Huckabee as the Commander in Chief.

America, please be smarter than Iowa. Support an intelligent, informed candidate like Romney or McCain, and if you can''t support either of them then please vote Democrat. Honestly, anybody but Huckabee.; Reply to this comment


by moxford0 January 5, 2008 6:30 PM EST: It''s the American Talaban at their best.; Reply to this comment


by stanzx1 January 5, 2008 2:18 PM EST: The truth about the War! Ron Paul vs Mike Huckabee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uk-T46soz8; Reply to this comment


by stanzx1 January 5, 2008 2:17 PM EST: The Christian Truth! Video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uk-T46soz8; Reply to this comment


by gregghofcc January 5, 2008 6:11 AM EST: I think it is time to recognize that Huckabee has been a successful governor longer than he was a pastor. He knows how to govern in a divided state. That will come in handy in our deeply polarized nation. He brings the heart of seasoned pastor together with the head of an effective statesman. He seems to understand what the consequences of public policy are for the people who have to live and work and sometimes even fight and die under them. I personally like that. It reminds me of both Teddy Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan who ran against their party and it was good for the Republicans that they did and that they won. It''s not about his faith anymore, its about his basic good sense and his authentic kindness. His sense of humor is evidence that the man is emotionally healthy. His critics reveal more about the emptiness of their own souls than they do about the content of his ideas and character. Iowa picked up on that fact and that is why so many turned away from Romney. Now, if only Wall Street and the D.C. Beltway Crowd can will listen to what the man has to say, they may realize that he is a breath of fresh air for the party and the nation. The point is, Huckabee is a skillful uniter and that is just what America needs right now.; Reply to this comment


by dph417 January 5, 2008 3:55 AM EST: Fink,

I don''t believe that democrats fear anything about Mike Huck, in fact, I believe they prefer to run against him rather than Milt. Huck is, whether it be positive or negative, much like the current president, and no one, not even those who simply cannot separate themselves from a certain ideology, can say that the seventy percent who disagree with Pres. Bush will not use that against Mike Huck. I believe that is a reality...we shall know soon enough.; Reply to this comment


by finklestein5 January 5, 2008 3:42 AM EST: FACT: That same article on the DNC website claims that "The fact is, a vote for Mike Huckabee, like all the Republican candidates, is a vote for a third Bush term...One thing is clear: whoever wins, a vote for any of the Republican candidates is a vote for a third Bush term."
Are these people serious?!?; Reply to this comment


by finklestein5 January 5, 2008 3:40 AM EST: FACT: The DNC is so scared of Huckabee that the headline article on the democrats.org site reads:
"Mike''s win means more of the same: Huckabee promises third bush term"
(www.democrats.org); Reply to this comment