In the fourth installment of the series “Road to the White House 2012: Politics, Media & Technology,” a bipartisan panel discussed the importance of religion in the upcoming election. Matt Klink, outgoing president of Cerrell Associates, was joined by Andre Pineda, former pollster for the 2008 Obama campaign; Aaron Wong, membership director of the USC College Republicans; and Ximena Valazquez-Arenas, president of the USC College Democrat. Pineda stressed the difference between the 2008 and 2012 elections in terms of how big of a role religion will play.
“Religion and social issues that go with religion are going to be less important in 2012 than 2008. The important things now are the economy and jobs,” said Pineda. Wong talked about how the candidates will have to perfect a balancing act between being nonspecific yet firm at the same time when it comes to religion. “There is a fine line to showing religious conviction but still remaining generic enough to talk about policy,” said Wong.
Klink mentioned specifically that GOP candidate Mitt Romney will have to address his religious beliefs even though he is running on the platform of fixing the economy. “I would imagine that if Obama had to address his beliefs, then Romney will also have to make a speech about religion and politics and how his Mormonism will affect his presidency,” said Klink.
Despite talks of how little religion will factor into the election, Valazquez-Arenas highlighted that religion is still a possible indicator in how people will vote. “Traditionally, the more you go to church, the more you would vote conservative,” said Valazquez-Arenas. Road to the White House 2012: Politics, Media & Technology is a weekly series presented in partnership with USC Dornsife College’s Unruh Institute of Politics and USC School of Policy, Planning & Development’s Bedrosian Center on Governance and Public Enterprise.
