Following in the footsteps of her chief political rival, Hillary Clinton sought common ground with a traditionally antagonistic constituency last week when she spoke at a conference of conservative Christians at the famed Saddleback Valley Community Church on the touchy topic of Aids. Saddleback, which is led by the influential pastor Rick Warren, has spearheaded a prominent and controversial campaign to raise awareness and proactively combat the spread of AIDS through preventive strategies, to the dismay of others in the evangelical community. Analysis below the fold....
It's doubtful that Clinton can make serious inroads with these voters, who have serious disagreements with her on important issues like abortion and gay marriage and see the former first lady as morally tainted due to her willingness to stand by her husband despite his extramarital affairs. Her ordeal will be particularly Sisyphean if she faces ordained Baptist preacher Mike Huckabee in a general election contest (though she might have some hope if pitted against Rudy Giuliani, who is distrusted by leading religious conservatives). Still, Clinton's effort reinforces the new seriousness with which Democratic candidates are treating evangelicals. They recognize that this is a constituency with significance and one that the left would do well to acknowledge and dialogue with, even if many of these religious voters will never be won over.
