Is now the time for an Midwestern evangelical conservative as president?

[Suburbia]

After Ronald Reagan left office in 1989, he was the last "Midwestern" (since he was born in Illinois) evangelical conservative to be elected president. Will that trend continue in 2016 (with Mike Pence, Tim Pawlenty,) or is it now a disadvantage for "evangelical candidates" to run for president due to social issues?

[The Mikado]

How was Ronald Reagan an evangelical?  He didn't even attend church.

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

No, dear Christ, absolutely no more "Christian conservative" Presidents to spread their agenda of hate and legislating morality.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Evangelicals should be kept out of office in favor of Catholics in most if not all cases. Pat Buchanan is a good example.

[Indy Texas]

Evangelicals should be kept out of office in favor of Catholics in most if not all cases. Pat Buchanan is a good example.

Pat Buchanan as president would be like an American version of Franco's Spain or Portugal under Estado Novo.

[Mr. Illini]

When I think "Evangelical conservative," I certainly don't think Reagan nor Pawlenty.

That said, no it isn't time for that.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

For a while it looked like a Catholic nominee was most likely between Christie, Rubio, and Ryan as top contenders. All have been removed somewhat or completely in the past year.

Midwest yes, but the problem for the GOP in the midwest is catholic and secular working class voters. The ones who are most religious most likely voted for Romney because of cultural issues, but such has less play for those who aren't as religious.

Nationwide, Romney got the same percentage of Evenglicals as Bush did in 2004 (78%) and they comprised a higher percentage of the electorate (26% versus 23%) in 2012 then they did in 2004.

[Bojack Horseman]

Pat Buchanan is a good example.

Pat Buchanan makes Rick Perry look like Alan Grayson

[Suburbia]

When I think "Evangelical conservative," I certainly don't think Reagan nor Pawlenty.

That said, no it isn't time for that.

You're probably right, but we'll see.

[ElectionsGuy]

I don't care at all about religion or region of a president, what I care about is content. But I agree its now a disadvantage to run a national campaign while talking constantly about social issues. You'll notice almost all gaffes in 2012 that cost elections were from social issues, If I were a republican, I would take the Romney route and focus on things that actually matter.

[The Mikado]

When I think "Evangelical conservative," I certainly don't think Reagan nor Pawlenty.

That said, no it isn't time for that.

You're probably right, but we'll see.

You didn't answer my point about Reagan not being (and not even identifying as) an evangelical.

[MurrayBannerman]

For a while it looked like a Catholic nominee was most likely between Christie, Rubio, and Ryan as top contenders. All have been removed somewhat or completely in the past year.

Midwest yes, but the problem for the GOP in the midwest is catholic and secular working class voters. The ones who are most religious most likely voted for Romney because of cultural issues, but such has less play for those who aren't as religious.

Nationwide, Romney got the same percentage of Evenglicals as Bush did in 2004 (78%) and they comprised a higher percentage of the electorate (26% versus 23%) in 2012 then they did in 2004.

I thought Rubio was Mormon?

He goes to Catholic and Baptist churches. Not sure which one he or his wife belongs to personally.

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

Are we talking about a candidate who happens to be an Evangelical Christian, or someone in the political movement?

[TJ in Oregon]

For a while it looked like a Catholic nominee was most likely between Christie, Rubio, and Ryan as top contenders. All have been removed somewhat or completely in the past year.

Midwest yes, but the problem for the GOP in the midwest is catholic and secular working class voters. The ones who are most religious most likely voted for Romney because of cultural issues, but such has less play for those who aren't as religious.

Nationwide, Romney got the same percentage of Evenglicals as Bush did in 2004 (78%) and they comprised a higher percentage of the electorate (26% versus 23%) in 2012 then they did in 2004.

I thought Rubio was Mormon?

He goes to Catholic and Baptist churches. Not sure which one he or his wife belongs to personally.

He's Catholic and his wife is Baptist. That's the reason for the ambiguity. IIRC his family briefly converted to Mormonism when he was a kid and unconverted somewhat soon after.

[retromike22]

I don't think it matters how "evangelical" a Midwestern candidate is, what is important is how soothing he can be in his midwesternness.

[Randy Bobandy]

Now is the time for an atheist president.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Now is the time for an atheist president.

As if this country hadn't already gone off the rails enough....

[Mister Mets]

A Midwestern evangelical conservative is well positioned to win the Republican party's nomination (due to the significance of Iowa, the advantages that come from being a candidate from a swing state, and the strength of evangelicals in primaries), and that would give the candidate a good chance of being the next President.

But there's no particular rush for it, in the way that many voters believed that it was time for an African-American President, or that some in the future may decide that it's time for a woman or for a Hispanic President, especially if a plausible nominee emerges.

[Randy Bobandy]

Now is the time for an atheist president.

As if this country hadn't already gone off the rails enough....

I fail to see what you mean.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Now is the time for an atheist president.

As if this country hadn't already gone off the rails enough....

I fail to see what you mean.

Don't mind Cathcon. He's just off his meds again.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Now is the time for an atheist president.

As if this country hadn't already gone off the rails enough....

I fail to see what you mean.

Don't mind Cathcon. He's just off his meds again.

I assume you're talking about caffeine and sleep. Lack of such things is what fuels most of my angry posts on this forum.

[Randy Bobandy]

Now is the time for an atheist president.

As if this country hadn't already gone off the rails enough....

I fail to see what you mean.

Don't mind Cathcon. He's just off his meds again.

I assume you're talking about caffeine and sleep. Lack of such things is what fuels most of my angry posts on this forum.

I still fail to see the reason for your anger towards my post.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Now is the time for an atheist president.

As if this country hadn't already gone off the rails enough....

I fail to see what you mean.

Don't mind Cathcon. He's just off his meds again.

I assume you're talking about caffeine and sleep. Lack of such things is what fuels most of my angry posts on this forum.

I still fail to see the reason for your anger towards my post.

Not really angry--that was more in reference to my general posting style of late, which is this sort of really annoyed, hatred-filled list of mean comments--just sort of "There goes the country..."

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

It is literally NEVER the time for an evangelical conservative President.  Anything good they can do can be done just as well by someone else, and a ton of the awful things they can do seem to be pretty exclusive to the "evangelical conservative" crowd. 

Whether or not it is ever "the time" has nothing to do with whether or not we will get one of them. 

[DS0816]

Is now the time for an Midwestern evangelical conservative as president?

No.

I would like an Openly Non-Believer.