Religious Voters and the 2008 Elections

June 3, 2008 == MEDIA ADVISORY

Summary: Calvin researchers will present results of a national survey on religious voters and the 2008 presidential election on Monday, June 9 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

A team of West Michigan researchers, including the director of the Paul B. Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics at Calvin College, will present result from a recent national survey on Monday, June 9 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Calvin's Corwin Smidt, director of the Henry Institute, will be one of four researchers speaking as part of a panel presentation on "Religious Voters in the 2008 Presidential Election."

The panel presentation will provide an overview of the findings, as well as a more focused analysis of the four largest religious groups in the electorate (evangelical Protestants, mainline Protestants, Roman Catholics and seculars), addressing such questions as the extent to which evangelicals may be moving toward the Democratic Party in 2008, whether mainline Protestants are continuing their drift away from the Republican Party, whether Catholics are less likely to support Barack Obama than Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee, and whether Jews are more likely to support McCain in 2008 than Bush in 2004.

Smidt will join fellow Calvin professors Jim Penning and Doug Koopman, as well as Grand Valley State professor Kevin DenDulk, at the podium on June 9 in the Zenger Room at the National Press Club. Events will begin with a continental breakfast followed by a 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. presentation of the results.

The Henry Institute National Survey on Religion and Public Life was conducted April 8 to May 10, 2008 and asked numerous questions addressing aspects of religious beliefs, religious affiliation and religious behavior. It had over 3,000 respondents.

Smidt said the goal was to understand political differences between and within different religious groups.

NOTE TO MEDIA: An RSVP is required for the event in Washington. For those media unable to attend, Smidt will be available after the event for phone interviews. To RSVP for the National Press Club event email henry@calvin.edu or call 616-526-6233.

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Received on Tue Jun 3 14:25:12 2008