Contact: Natalie Bell, Concerned Women for America (CWA), 202-488-7000 ext. 126

WASHINGTON, August 26 /Standard Newswire/ -- Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee (CWALAC) sees the national political conventions as a spotlight for focusing America's attention on the connection between faith and the central issues facing the nation in the 2008 general election in November.  Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse, CWALAC political commentator, said, "In contrast to the prevailing view that secularism is changing the political landscape in America, the 2008 campaign is revealing that America is a profoundly religious nation.  For the first time, the Democratic convention began with a religious ceremony, acknowledging that 61 percent of Americans say that religion is very important in their lives.  The pundits agree that both candidates are pursuing the evangelical vote, with Senator Barack Obama hoping to get the more theologically progressive voters and Senator McCain trying to win the Biblically-based, pro-life evangelicals."

Crouse continued, "The Saddleback Civil Forum revealed stark differences between the two presidential candidates on the issues of life and marriage.  The Democrats view younger evangelicals as more 'progressive' in their theology, but evidence shows they are even more strongly pro-life than older evangelicals.  The Republicans may benefit from the reality of polls which indicate that the life issue is central in predicting voters' choice.  A Time magazine poll last week reported that McCain was the favorite of 70 percent of evangelicals, with 19 percent favoring Obama, and the rest undecided."

Crouse concluded, "If the election this year is as close as the 2000 and 2004 elections, the pro-life and pro-marriage vote will be extremely important and could determine the winner of the election.  All the evidence suggests that Senator McCain must choose a pro-life vice president if he wants to be the next president of the United States."

Janice Shaw Crouse is available for interviews during both the Democratic and Republican conventions. Janice Shaw Crouse, former speechwriter for the first President Bush, is an expert in presidential rhetoric and debate. She provides political commentary for the networks and cable channels as well as for the print media.  She is a columnist for UPI and Townhall. She is especially qualified to comment on the social, religious, women and children's issues related to the 2008 presidential election.