But what role did faith—and specifically Christianity—play during the three-day event, which concluded Sept. 4? Lee Michaels and Jeff Shell, co-hosts of KKMS Live on AM 980 reflect on their experience broadcasting live from the RNC.


MCC: What was your involvement with the RNC?

Michaels: We were broadcasting live all four days of the RNC. We were also simulcasting our show on our sister station KSLR in San Antonio, Texas.

Shell: We had a chance to interview a fascinating list of guests including: Sen. Norm Coleman and Rep. Michele Bachmann; Robert Mosbacher, general chairman of the McCain Campaign; Pastor Mike Smith, who ministered to the protesters; Orson Swindle, John McCain’s cell mate at the “Hanoi Hilton”; Gus Booth, Minnesota Delegate and the pastor of Warroad Community Church who is challenging the IRS on free speech; and Sallai Meridor, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States.


MCC: How would you describe how faith in general was treated during the convention?

Michaels: KKMS was one of the only media outlets covering it with a Christian worldview. We were interviewed a couple of times from other media outlets asking us about our take on it as Christians—specifically regarding the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as John McCain’s running mate.


MCC: What about Christianity specifically?

Michaels: There was more interest in Christianity because of the Palin pick.

Shell: Journalists were interested in our response to the news that Bristol Palin was pregnant out of wedlock. Based on the questions, they seemed to think we would be judgmental against this. We had to school them about how it was more important in the way Christians respond to a problem, and that Christian families are not immune to these types of problems.


MCC: Are there any moments of the convention in particular that stand out in your mind in regard to Christianity from the stage? How did the crowd react?

Shell: I can’t recall the specifics, but I know the crowd responded enthusiastically to a reference to [Palin’s] faith in her acceptance speech.


MCC: McCain has a reputation of being “closed-off” about his faith. Did he do anything to contradict that image during the convention?

Shell: Nothing overt other than the selection of Palin as his VP, which was an indicator of his level of comfort with a person who’s faith is at the core of what influences her worldview. He also shared his P.O.W. story about coming into contact with a Christian guard who provided him physical relief from a torturous confinement and how that impacted him.


MCC: Having now been through the convention and having had time to process your experience, how big a factor will faith be in the race for president?

Michaels: In my opinion, the selection of Gov. Palin energized the conservative base and got the evangelical’s excited about the campaign. I had some issues with McCain, but I would have voted for him because of the possible Supreme Court nominations that our next president will make. But, adding Palin to the ticket was a big plus.

Faith will be a factor in this election because evangelicals now have a ticket that is 100 percent pro-life and a vice presidential candidate who will fight for the defense of marriage and speaks out about her faith.

Shell: The influence and impact of evangelicals was made evident by two events—Rick Warren’s Forum at Saddleback Church and the selection of Sarah Palin as the vice presidential candidate. Warren’s Forum at Saddleback Church did much to make clear the differences in the faith and values of the two candidates, making evangelicals more comfortable with McCain and skeptical of Obama’s legislative agenda. The response to the “life” question was pivotal.

The selection of Sarah Palin sucked the oxygen from the Obama campaign, giving him no bounce from the convention and causing McCain skeptics such as James Dobson to state he could now vote for McCain.