January 20, 2012 - Paul Stanley

Study: Presidential Candidates Expressing Their Faith May Be Turning Voters Off

Charleston, SC – A new poll released by LifeWay Research shows that presidential candidates who share their faith on the campaign trail may not be helping their cause. The results of this study may go against the strategy being implemented by at least two of the GOP candidates this week in South Carolina as they try to woo evangelicals to the polls on Saturday. The online survey of adult Americans was conducted Sept. 23-26 and asked the question, “When a candidate running for office regularly expresses religious conviction or activity, how does that impact your vote?” According to the study’s findings, only 1 in 6 Americans, or 16 percent, are more likely to vote for a candidate who regularly shares their religious beliefs. Even more interesting, 30 percent indicated they would be less likely to vote for a candidate expressing religious activity, 28 percent say it would have no impact on their choice of a candidate and 21 percent of Americans said it would depend on the candidate’s religion. Despite this study’s findings, at least half of the GOP candidates have been touting their personal religious convictions when speaking to groups in Iowa, New Hampshire and now in South Carolina. [...]

Gingrich Still Surging On Eve of South Carolina Primary

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich is continuing to ride a wave of support despite revelations from his second wife on Thursday that he asked her for an "open marriage." I've been in South Carolina all week and I have to say that things have changed drastically since Sunday. At the beginning of the week there were six GOP presidential hopefuls. Now that Huntsman and Perry have dropped out we're down to four. If one of the remaining group does not have a respectable finish in the Palmetto State, there could be one less. Needless to say, Thursday was the most eventful day in the presidential campaign season to date. Besides the news of Marianne Gingrich "outing" her former husband, Texas Gov. Rick Perry dropped out of the race and endorsed Gingrich, who later the same day laid into CNN's John King for beginning the networks Thursday evening debate on the marriage issue. Many of my colleagues in the press feel that Gingrich won the debate. Yet despite all the negative news the Gingrich campaign had to deal with, I sense he is going to win in South Carolina. Romney will come in second which means Santorum will finish [...]