An N.C. evangelical to tour for Obama?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:40 -0400

Consider this post pure speculation.

But Dome noticed this recent report on CBN, a Christian news outlet, about Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's upcoming "Faith, Family and Values" tour.

The Brody File is told that top faith surrogates will hit the trail for Obama. Some of those high profile figures include Former Indiana Congressman and pro-life Democrat Tim Roemer, Catholic legal scholar Doug Kmiec, and author Donald Miller. You can also expect a soon to be named Evangelical North Carolina (red state) Congressman to travel the country as well.

Now, we can't confirm this report, so take it with a grain of salt. But if it's true, who is it?

Among Democrats, Reps. G.K. Butterfield, David Price, Mel Watt and Brad Miller have been big Obama supporters, but we don't think any of them as evangelicals. Reps. Mike McIntyre and Bob Etheridge are not likely to go on the hustings for Obama.

That leaves Rep. Heath Shuler.

In an interview with a Christian publication, Shuler resisted the label "born-again," but he is a pro-life Southern Baptist from the mountains. Facing his first run for re-election, he did not get heavily involved in the primary (and backed Hillary Clinton when he did).

Still, his Republican opponent is weaker than expected, so he might feel confident enough to do it.

A longshot: Republican Rep. Walter Jones, a convert to Catholicism who still talks about his faith like an evangelical, still had not endorsed John McCain as of Sept. 10.