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Anti-Obama Evangelical Writes Pro-Obama Book

Stephen Mansfield thinks Obama may sway young Christians, though he himself will vote against him

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 16, 2008 4:35 PM CDT

(Newser) – Stephen Mansfield expects to cast his ballot against Barack Obama in November. But that hasn’t stopped him from writing an admiring book about the candidate's religious profile—The Faith of Barack Obama—which argues that the candidate may well steal young evangelical voters away from John McCain. McCain is “clumsy when it comes to religion,” Mansfield tells Politico, in stark contrast to Obama’s “fluency” in the language of Christianity.

Mansfield says he can't vote for Obama because the senator is pro-choice, but he doesn't think that's a stumbling block for everyone in the Christian right. “Young Evangelicals are saying, ‘look, I'm pro-life but I'm looking at a guy who's first of all black—and they love that; two, who's a Christian; and three who believes faith should bear on public policy,” Mansfield says. His The Faith of George W. Bush spent 15 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list in 2004.

Senator John McCain.
Senator John McCain.   (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Obama speaks to a congregation.
Obama speaks to a congregation.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., speaks about fatherhood at the Apostolic Church of God  in Chicago Sunday, June 15, 2008.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., speaks about fatherhood at the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago Sunday, June 15, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., walks to the pulpit to speak at the Apostolic Church of God service about fatherhood in Chicago, Sunday, June 15, 2008.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., walks to the pulpit to speak at the Apostolic Church of God service about fatherhood in Chicago, Sunday, June 15, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Michelle Obama at the Apostolic Church of God with daughters Sasha Obama 7, left, and Malia Obama 10, in Chicago.
Michelle Obama at the Apostolic Church of God with daughters Sasha Obama 7, left, and Malia Obama 10, in Chicago.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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