I’ve already written about Obama’s poor performance at the Saddleback forum a few weeks ago. His campaign has been trying hard to win support among moderate evangelical voters, but his answers to Rick Warren’s abortion questions were very disappointing—doing nothing to change religious voters’ views of liberal Democrats despite Obama’s policy stance to reduce the number of abortions.

Now comes Governor Palin. The self-described bible believing conservative from Alaska. The hockey mom (pitbull in lipstick) has energized the evangelical base of the GOP and infused their lukewarm support for McCain with some religious zeal. Where does this leave Obama’s chances with evangelicals? Answer: right about where John Kerry’s were in 2004.

Steve Waldman posted this report on the CT Politics blog:

I asked Mark DeMoss, Christian PR mogul who earlier said Obama was making real inroads in the evangelical community, whether it was now “game over” for Obama and his evangelical outreach efforts. He paused and thought for a moment. “Yes. I think so.” Obama has been hurt by three things:
1) Obama’s poor performance on abortion at the Saddleback candidates forum
2) Obama’s position that faith based charities couldn’t get federal money if they hired people only if their own faith
3) McCain’s pick of Sarah Palin.

That’s three strikes,” said Demoss.

A pretty good case could be made for Obama’s religious credentials when compared to McCain—a man who has been very private about his faith. The first setback for Obama with evangelicals came from his own pastor, Rev. Wright. Now with the shekinah having apparently moved above Gov. Palin’s head, there seems to be little chance for Obama to make inroads among with church-goers.

I had been hoping to get an interview with the Obama campaign this summer to discuss the candidate’s outreach to evangelicals. After getting a green light from Obama’s people, I’m now having troubled finalizing the interview. I understand their evangelical outreach team has been pretty busy, but I’m guessing that’s about to change.