Religion and the 2004 Presidential Campaign

In 2004, pollsters found that an individual’s level of religious commitment and activity was the primary indicator of voting behavior. Evangelical Christians turned out in record numbers and moral values was identified as the most important issue influencing voter choices. This article examines the role of religion in the 2004 presidential contest. It examines the social and political context and constituency for religious issues, direct appeals, strategies and tactics of the campaigns, and concludes with a more detailed analysis of the impact of religion in the presidential campaign.