Representatives of all the GOP candidates except Jon Huntsman, made presentations to the Texas gathering, which was held on Friday and Saturday.  By the third round of voting, only Santorum and Gingich had not been eliminated, and Santorum won with 85 votes to 29 cast for Gingrich.  A phone conference with press followed the balloting and was also led by Tony Perkins.  Contrary to some previous reports and statements from participants, including Gary Bauer, Perkins indicated that the gathering was about uniting their support behind a candidate other than Romney.  Perkins stated that if their candidate was Romney, "there would have been no reason for this meeting."  

It remains to be seen what influence these Religious Right leaders will have this close to the South Carolina primary. Despite the vote, they appear to continue to be divided between support for Santorum and Gingrich. Ironically, the only evangelical candidate left in the GOP primary is Texas Governor Rick Perry.

There are a number of active religo-political networks in South Carolina. Palmetto Family Council is affiliated with both Focus on Family and Family Research Council and has had significant influence on the state legislature.  James Dobson, who attended the Texas gathering, is no longer head of Focus on Family, but Tony Perkins still leads the Family Research Council.  

South Carolina is also home to politically active New Apostolic networks and a relatively new religo-political organization called the Oak Initiative, founded in 2009.  

South Carolina Tea Party

This weekend the first statewide Tea Party convention began in Myrtle Beach, opened with a speech by Senator Jim DeMint. It continues today with Governor Nikki Haley and candidates Gingrich, Santorum, and Ron Paul.  

As noted in my previous article, the South Carolina Tea Party overlaps significantly with the Religious Right and includes a Christian nationalist message.

One of yesterday's speakers at the Tea Party event was Apostle Claver Kamau-Imani of the Houston-based Raging Elephants.  Claver, an African American, told the overwhelmingly Caucasian participants that they should be more racially inclusive, but intolerant of other religions and beliefs.  According to the Palmetto Public Record, he told participants that associating with non-believers and people of different faiths is a threat to their own faith.  

Apostle Claver described the Democratic Party as "racist," also using the term to describe Rep. Jim Clyburn, an African American representing South Carolina in the U.S. House.  

This echoes a message being promoted across the nation by the apostles and prophets of the New Apostolic  Reformation, including the Oak Initiative. Much of the messaging has been developed by Christian nationalist speaker David Barton and included as part of the programming for Pastors Policy Briefings held in several states.  

This is a strategy for a more racially diverse Republican Party, including the promotion of talking points describing the Democratic Party and non-Christian religions as literally demonic and the source of societal problems. In these extensive narratives, the Democratic Party has always been and continues today, to be the party oppressing minorities. It's a way to try expand minority outreach while countering the racist imagery and history of the Christian nationalism that is shared by the Religious Right and much of the Tea Party movement.

Also see:
TheCall Detroit: Window Into 2012 Relio-Political Strategies for Minority Outreach