The Christian Right never ceases to surprise professional observers of American politics.
With the Christian coalition in disarray, many expected that the movement would play less of a role in the 2004 elections. But when exit polls reported that "moral values" were the most commonly cited reason for presidential vote choice, pundits immediately proclaimed the importance of the "values vote." Yet the role of the Christian Right, of statewide referenda on same-sex marriage, and of religious mobilization remained the subject of debate.
The Values Campaign? The Christian Right and the 2004 Elections reaches well beyond the instant analyses of the post-election period to provide an assessment of the role of the religious right in 2004. The contributors to this volume are among the leading scholars of religion and politics in the United States, and many have contributed for over a decade to ongoing discussions of the role played by the religious right in national elections.
The authors consider national mobilization and issues, and also explore the role of the Christian Right in specific states. Their evaluations contend that the "values campaign" was not an aberration but a consistent pattern of national politics, and that moral traditionalism will likely continue to be a significant factor in future elections.
A timely study of the 2004 elections, this volume will appeal to scholars and observers of electoral politics, state politics, and religion and politics.
Table of Contents
List of Tables
Part One: The Christian Right Movement in 2004
Introduction
The March Goes On: The Christian Right and the 2004 Values Campaign
John C. Green, Mark J. Rozell, Clyde Wilcox
1. The "Values Vote"? Moral Issues and the 2004 Elections
Mark J. Rozell and Debasree Das Gupta
2. Agents of Value: Christian Rights Activists in 2004
John C. Green, Kimberly Conger, and James L. Guth
3. Saving Marriage by Banning Marriage: The Christian Right Finds a New Issue in 2004
Clyde Wilcox, Linda M. Merolla, and David Beer
Part Two: The Key States in the 2004 Election
4. Ohio: The Bible and the Buckeye State
John C. Green
5. Michigan: A War on the Home Front?
James M. Penning and Corwin E. Smidt
6. Iowa: In the Heart of Bush Country
Kimberly H. Conger and Donald Racheter
7. Minnesota: Battleground Politics in a New Setting
Christopher P. Gilbert
8. Florida: So Close and Yet So Far
Kenneth D. Wald, Richard K. Scher, Matthew DeSantis, and Susan Orr
9. Colorado: An Uphill Climb
Carin Larson
10. Oklahoma: A Battle of Good versus Evil
Shad B. Satterthwaite
11. California: Ménage à Trois: The Christian Right, the Republican Party, and Arnold Schwarzenegger
J. Christopher Soper and Joel S. Fetzer
12. South Carolina: Integration and Success?
James L. Guth
Contributors
Index
Reviews
"This is an excellent book that belongs on the shelf of anyone who wants to understand the role of religion in American politics. In particular, it would make an excellent addition to courses (both undergraduate and graduate) on the topic."—Sociology of Religion
"This volume provides thorough, expert analysis of the significance of the Christian Right in the 2004 campaigns. The authors offer clear and detailed discussions of the role of values rhetoric and Christian Right mobilization in nine key states. This is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the significance of religion in American politics."—Laura R. Olson, Clemson University
Contributors
David Beer Kimberly H. Conger Debasree Das Gupta Matthew DeSantis Christopher P. Gilbert John C. Green James L. Guth Carin Larson Linda M. Merolla Susan Orr James M. Penning Donald Racheter Mark J. Rozell Shad B. Satterwaite Richard K. Scher Corwin Smidt J. Christopher Soper Kenneth D. Wald Clyde Wilcox
About the Author
John C. Green is professor of political science at the University of Akron and senior fellow with the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.
Mark J. Rozell is professor of public policy at George Mason University.
Clyde Wilcox is professor of government at Georgetown University.
