Poll: Most Americans Want a Biblical Leader as President

By Jennifer Riley, Christian Post Reporter Friday, February 01, 2008

The majority of Americans want a president who mirrors biblical ideals of leadership, revealed a new poll out Thursday.

About six in 10 Americans likely to vote say they would be more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who speaks publicly about following the example of admirable leaders from the Bible and who uses the Bible for guidance in both public and personal matters, found a nationwide Zogby Poll conducted for the American Bible Society.

According to the survey, more than three-quarters (78 percent) of respondents – 86 percent of women and 68 percent of men – view candidates citing Scripture when explaining political positions as positive.

Also, most Americans voters want a candidate who has a servant-leader attitude. Respondents are more likely to support a candidate who sees the office as a privilege to serve others, with a responsibility to God.

Out of the polled respondents aged 18-29, 84 percent said a candidate's servant-leader attitude would impact their vote. Interestingly, only 62 percent of older respondents, 50-64 years old, said it would influence their decision.

In addition to Biblical leadership qualities, many likely voters are affected by the simple question of whether the candidate believes in God.

Nearly half of likely voters indicated that they would not vote for a presidential candidate who did not believe in God, while 20 percent said they would vote for such a candidate. Another 20 percent said this factor would not affect their vote

But by far, truthfulness and integrity – characteristics often emphasized in the Bible – topped the list of qualities respondents feel are most important in a leader.

The poll was conducted Jan. 25-27 on 1,008 adult respondents from throughout the United States. Nearly all respondents (95 percent) said they have some interaction with the Bible, ranging from well aware to exploring the contents of the Bible. Close to a quarter of participants said they were born-again Christians.

A Christian Web site, www.iVoteValues.org, affiliated with the Family Research Council and Focus on the Family, is helping Christians register to vote and with what to consider in choosing a candidate.

The Web site is offering a Voter Impact Toolkit that includes sermon helps, matching PowerPont presentation, Voter Resource Guide, voter registration forms, poster, and other resources to equip pastors and churches to vote their values. The pro-family Christian organizations behind the website encourage Christians to consider biblical values when voting, and pray for the election of godly leaders.