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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Prominent evangelical warms to McCain

Posted: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 11:34 AM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray
Phil Burress, a prominent evangelical leader, said this about McCain a month ago: "We don't like him and he doesn't like us."

VIDEO: Can Senator Obama woo some of the evangelical vote away from the Republican party? And is the price he'd have to pay worth it? Executive director of the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, Rev. Barry Lynn talks to MSNBC's Keith Olbermann.

But after recently meeting with McCain, Burress is now supporting the presumptive GOP nominee, according to CBN's David Brody. "Personally, I can't wait any longer and can't take the chance that Obama will be our next president," Burress said in a memo he sent to evangelicals across the country. "I spent an hour sitting next to McCain, questioning him and listening as the group took him to task on issues like embryonic stem cell research... For me this election is primarily about the next Supreme Court appointments, even though McCain is with us on many other issues as well."

Brody's take: "This is the type of buzz John McCain needs. He needs conservative activists fighting in his corner. Clearly Burress was impressed by McCain. Will other grassroots leaders follow suit? If they do it could improve McCain's chances significantly in November."

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Comments

To Carol, Long Valley NJ:

Great post - I want what you want! :)
Be real.  This has nothing to do with Burress being "impressed" by Sen. McCain.  Burress is siding with whom he believes is the lesser of two evils.  Not exactly a ringing endorsement.  How about this headline - "Lukewarm Supports Blah."
I personally can't see how any believing person could support Obama, who not only supports the horrific practice of partial birth abortion, but apparently doesn't view children the true blessing they are.  He once defended abortion for the incrediblly self-focussed reason that he wouldn't wish to "punish [someone] with a baby."  What a devil!  McCain has adopted a child from Bangladesh, and is a saint compared with Obama.
"after recently meeting with McCain, Burress is now supporting the presumptive GOP nominee"

HAS BURRESS MET WITH OBAMA?

The answer is an emphatic NO. By being against Obama, he continues to show the same terrible judgment he showed when he criticized McCain without meeting with him.
Another flip-fopper for McCain. Mr Burress, please look up the word Evangelical in Webster's dictionary. I wont write the whole definition here, but this is a close definition of Barak Obama (agreement with Christian Gospel, salvation of faith by personal conversion, etc)- Obama has worked to help the poor in many ways and in the process was converted to Christianity, and he is still working to help them, not like John McCain who is working to help the rich, like the money changers in the Temple. Looks like you caved to John McCain and he has pulled the wool over your eyes. It was made a big deal on TV networks last Sunday because he went to church, which he usually doesnt, before meeting with the Grahams. Dont McCain and his wife have living spouses whom they divorced, which isnt condoned by the gospels? Obama may support abortion, but has said ONLY as a last resort.
You should have held to your original statment that "We dont like him." John McCain is not close to being one of you and I think you should be ashamed!
Even Evangelicals are flip floppers.  Burres was against McCain before he was for him, and was for Pornography before he was against it.  Go figure.  Some of these Evangelicals are the biggest hypocrites there are.
I am pretty sure this country was built on the seperation of Church and state.  I wish people would vote and think like that.  

Vote who will help the economy and keep us safe, not on whether you think an unborned fetus is a person or not.
So for Phil Burress, the Presidential election is about the Supreme Court.  There have been justices appointed because they were either conservative or liberal and Presidents thought they were getting a like minded justice.  Well, that didn't work, because U.S. Supreme Court judges are sworn to uphold the constitution.  They rule based on the facts presented and the U.S. Constitution, not the Bible.


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