Young Evangelicals Leaving the Republican Fold?

Reports continue to surface that Evangelicals, previously assumed to vote Republican as a block, are leaving the Republican fold over issues such as the Iraq war, the economy, and even the environment.

A 2007 survey conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life reported that approximately 15% of young white evangelicals, a traditionally solid republican block, were no longer identifying with the GOP. Older evangelicals are also re-examining their traditional party identifications.

Although there is certainly sufficient reason to debate the current administration's handling of the Iraq war and the U.S. economic situation, other questions arise from this shifting of party loyalties.

1. Will this shift impact the balance of power in congress?
   
2. Will Democrats brought into power by this shift be more moderate in their stance, and hence be at odds with the broader Democratic leadership?

This shift in political allegiance may impact relations among faith groups. Will faith groups seeking to work on common issues such as abortion or pornography, or local issues such as poverty and education, find themselves at odds over political issues, and will these political differences become a stumbling block to getting work done on those issues of common interest?

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