A Matter of Faith: Religion in the 2004 Presidential Election

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"Moral values" dominated the post-election headlines in 2004. Analysts pointed to exit polls, strong turnout among evangelicals, and controversy over gay marriage as evidence that the election had been decided along religious lines. Soon, however, this explanation was called into question. In A Matter of Faith, distinguished scholars go beyond the headlines to assess the role of religion in the 2004 election. Were issues such as stem cell research really more influential than the economy and Iraq? Did deeply religious Americans necessarily vote Republican? Was the morality factor really a dramatic new development?

David E. Campbell and his colleagues examine the religious affiliations of voters and party elite and evaluate the claim that moral values were decisive in 2004. The authors analyze strategies used to mobilize religious conservatives and examine the voting behavior of a broad range of groups, including evangelicals, African-Americans, and the understudied religious left. This rich perspective on faith and politics is essential reading on a critical aspect of American politics.

Contributors include John Green , James Guth , Sunshine Hillygus , Laura Hussey , John Jackson , Scott Keeter , Lyman Kellstedt , Geoffrey Layman , David Leal , David Leege , Eric McDaniel ,Quin Monson , Barbara Norrander , Jan Norrander , Baxter Oliphant , Corwin Smidt , and Matthew Wilson .