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Trump leads among evangelicals despite past support for abortion rights, multiple marriages
Donald Trump's past sins certainly don't seem to be affecting his current status among evangelical voters. The Donald leads the Republican field among evangelicals with 32 percent of their support, polling far ahead of candidates who frequently tout their religious beliefs, including Southern Baptist preacher Mike Huckabee, Bible quoter Rick Santorum, and son of a preacher Ted Cruz.
But while Trump's popularity among evangelicals is undeniable, the reason behind that support isn't so clear. As The Boston Globe points out, Trump's views don't always align with the evangelical mindset:
Trump says he can't remember ever asking God for forgiveness for anything. If he has a favorite Bible verse, he refuses to name it. He has downplayed the importance of Holy Communion, flippantly saying, "I drink the little wine, which is about the only wine I drink, and I eat the little cracker." [The Boston Globe]
Trump met his second wife at the church where he married his first wife and, until several years ago, he was in favor of abortion rights. He has attended a gay wedding and has said that the Supreme Court's decision on same-sex marriage ought not to be further debated.
The Week
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Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
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For some evangelicals, these facts may not matter as much as the fact that Trump is "unfettered by the political correctness." While Trump doesn't represent a "Christian agenda or an evangelical agenda," head of the Palmetto Family Council Oran P. Smith points out that he does represent "a willingness to push back hard against things."
Some counter that Trump's surge is a passing trend. Richard Land, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary told The Globe: "There are too many people in the race that have far more social conservative and religious credentials than Donald Trump — and fewer wives."
