South Carolina Evangelical Voters Prefer Trump?

The presidential primary exit polls in conservative South Carolina are very revealing. There was a record turnout and 72% of Republican primary voters were self-identified evangelicals. This is higher than the 65% that voted in the Iowa caucuses. Donald Trump triumphed with 33 percent of the evangelical vote, compared to 27 percent for Ted Cruz and 22 percent for Marco Rubio.

What’s the significance of these results? South Carolina evangelicals are angry. Some 60% voted for either Trump or Cruz who are running against Washington and the Republican establishment.

Cruz, an unabashed evangelical, whose father is a protestant minister and who made the most overt play for the evangelical constituency was not able to capitalize on his advantage. His style is not as appealing as Trump’s or Rubio’s, but his positions are more consistently conservative and biblical. Of course, millions of dollars of attack ads were aired against all the candidates, but they seem to have impacted Cruz the most.

Trump’s sketchy protestant credentials and questionable character, including multiple marriages, failed casino ventures, etc. and even his record of flip-flops on core social issues didn’t matter to the majority of evangelicals.

What really matters?

Some argue this whole election is about illegal immigration and the existential threat it poses to our country. Conservatives are angry with both parties for the failure to seal the southern border. They feel if we don’t fix immigration our nation, as we know it, will disappear and the next generations will suffer.

Even the sudden death just days out from the primary of Antonin Scalia, the conservative Supreme Court Justice, was thought to have been an advantage for Cruz. He has experience with the Supreme Court and has promised to appoint conservative, Scalia-like justices. It did not seem to matter.

Trump owns the immigration issue, even though others, like Cruz and Carson, have similar, resolute anti-illegal immigration positions. Combine that with our culture’s fascination with celebrity, and an unorthodox, but highly effective, blunt and entertaining campaign style, it’s no wonder evangelicals are attracted to Trump.

The turning point for Trump seems to have been the effusive endorsement Trump received by Jerry Falwell Jr. and other prominent conservative evangelical ministers. It signaled to evangelicals they could vote for Trump in good conscience.

Is Trump the best man for the job? That’s the rub. Cruz or Rubio in any other Presidential election season would probably be leading, but the Trump factor has disrupted the political process as we know it.

This means Christians need to be very prayerful and discerning. Many evangelicals sat out the last two Presidential elections out of frustration and disappointment with their choices.

Will a Trump candidacy end up alienating a sufficient number of evangelicals to the extent they stay home, or is the anger on the immigration issue enough to get out the evangelical vote?

Clinton Vs. Trump?

It is looking more likely Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic nominee after winning the Nevada Democratic caucuses. With her super-delegate advantage she seems to have the nomination all but sewn up. There is one caveat. Will she be indicted for the 1,500 illegal State Department e-mails, including top secret ones, that have been uncovered on her illegal server? That will be very interesting.

John Calvin wrote,“When God wants to judge a nation he gives it evil rulers.” Pray for God to turn us back to Him and to grant us righteous leaders far better than we deserve.

HOW SHOULD YOU VOTE?

Watch our video on the Biblical qualifications for elected officials and share it with your family and friends.