Polling Evangelical Democrats

Even when they get it right, polls can have their problems. That they missed so badly on Hillary and Barack is just one example.

But that's not the concern that many evangelical leaders are having with recent polls. You see all the polls are interested in the "evangelical" nature of the Republican electorate -- because Evangelicals supposedly make up a significant block within the party. Indeed, Mike Huckabee's chances are pinned to his Evangelical connections (though I do believe that Stephen Colbert's acceptance of a place on a future Huckabee ticket could be an even bigger contributor to his future success). And other GOP candidates pander to the Religious Right, hoping to gain their support. Apparently Pat Robertson's imprimatur hasn't done much for Rudy, however.

But what about Evangelical Democrats? How are Democratic Candidates doing with the "Born Again Crowd"? The answer is -- the polls can't tell us because while they ask the question of GOP voters, they don't ask that question of Democrats, and that has gotten the attention of a number of Evangelical leaders, who are asking that the pollsters change their behavior.

Entitled: "Letter from Evangelical Leaders to Polling and Political Directors of Media Outlets Represented in the National Election Pool" the letter is signed by nine evangelicals: Brian McLaren (Emergent Village), Jim Wallis (Sojourners), Joel Hunt (Northland Church), Glenn Stassen (Fuller Seminary), Randy Balmer (Columbia University), David Gushee (Mercer University), David Neff (Christianity Today), Paul Corts (CCCU), and Randy Brinson (Redeem the Vote).

They conclude their request with this statement:

With voters entering polling sites in Michigan, Nevada and South Carolina in the coming days and weeks and Super Tuesday following shortly thereafter, it is imperative for you to remedy the imbalance in your exit polling immediately. Evangelicalism is not a monolithic movement that fits neatly into one party. For the sake of accuracy and dispelling shopworn stereotypes, we urge you to allow all evangelicals an opportunity to be represented in your surveys and polling data.

It would be interesting to see what's really going on, wouldn't it?