How religious voters could help determine the 45th president

Hillary Clinton speaks to the congregation at Greater Saint Paul Baptist Church in Oakland, California. Photo by Mike Blake/Reuters

BY BILL BARROW, ASSOCIATED PRESS
August 26, 2016 at 4:19 PM EDT

BY BILL BARROW, ASSOCIATED PRESS August 26, 2016 at 4:19 PM EDT

ATLANTA — Republican Donald Trump has told conservative evangelical pastors in Florida that his presidency would preserve “religious liberty” and reverse what he insists is a government-enforced muzzling of Christians.

The same afternoon, Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine praised another, more liberal group of black church leaders in Louisiana for their “progressive values that are the values of Scripture,” and he urged them to see Hillary Clinton as a kindred spirit.

The competing appearances earlier this month highlight an oft-overlooked political reality: The “religious vote” is vast and complex, and it extends beyond generalizations about “social conservatives” who side with Republicans and black Protestant churches whose pastors and parishioners opt nearly unanimously for Democrats.

Here’s an overview of how the dynamics among religious voters could help determine the 45th president.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/candidates-capitalize-ever-powerful-religious-vote/