Clergy and Campaign Money

In a number of places in our book, we mention the role of clergy as issue advocates (e.g., Martin Luther King) and elected officials (e.g., President James A. Garfield). CQ reports another political role: campaign contributor:

Like other previously untapped fundraising sources, Obama’s small-dollar juggernaut in the last election cycle also successfully passed its online collection plate among the country’s clerical class, raising $691,000 — or more than 10 percent of the past 30 years’ total — from ordained ministers, rabbis and other members of the clergy. In the 2008 presidential campaign, Obama also outraised GOP nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona by more than 5-to-1 among religious leaders.