Obama Reaches Out to Faith-Based Voters

July 1, 2007— -- The language of faith has sometimes been a foreign tongue to Democratic candidates, but not for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., who, today, courted voters from communities of faith in Zanesville, Ohio.

"I came to see my faith as being both a personal commitment to Christ and a commitment to my community," he said, addressing a group at Eastside Community Ministry. "That, while I could sit in church and pray all I want, I wouldn't be fulfilling God's will unless I went out and did the Lord's work."

Obama has said that, if elected president, he would expand the office of faith-based initiatives started by President Bush, which channels federal money to religious groups, and provides assistance for religious organizations to help those in need.

"The fact is, the challenges we face today -- from saving our planet to ending poverty -- are simply too big for government to solve alone," Obama said. "We need all hands on deck."

Obama's approach is part of what his campaign calls unprecedented religious outreach for a Democratic candidate, including sponsoring Christian rock concerts and a promise to hold 1,000 house parties on religion.

Josh Dubois, the 25-year-old son of a preacher, and Obama's director of religious affairs, commented on the centrality of his candidate's faith and its importance for the country.

"We talk about Sen. Obama and his Christian journey," Dubois said. "But more importantly, we talk about how we can find points of common ground across religious lines, and how we can move our country forward."

It is no coincidence that this is Obama's second appearance in a battleground state this week. On Monday, Obama defended his patriotism in Independence, Mo., attempting to assuage concerns that he did not wear a flag pin during the primary season.

Obama's faith talk today in the battleground state of Ohio points to the candidate's desire to reach out to traditionally Republican constituencies.

Conservative Christians comprise about a quarter of the electorate, and the evangelical community played a big role in both of Bush's presidential campaigns.