Up for grabs

Campaign 2008: Obama makes a concerted bid for the young evangelical vote, but the numbers suggest they are still leaning right | Alisa Harris

Diana Smith, a self-described moderate and committed Presbyterian, says she registered Democrat because she read that Republicans send more junk mail: "I'm not like a clear-cut Democrat or a clear-cut Republican. But in this world they make you pick a party."

Smith, 27, is part of a group observers say is a key swing voting bloc—young evangelicals. She is disillusioned with the war and doesn't think Jesus would work Himself into a frenzy over gay marriage. She calls herself pro-life. She respects McCain but is skeptical about his ability to cleanse America's tarnished reputation. An ex-Clinton supporter, she is "slowly going for Obama."

And Obama clearly wants her vote. In June, he met with 30 prominent religious leaders. His campaign mobilized the Joshua Generation Project (to the disgruntlement of the Home School Legal Defense Association, which claims he stole the name) to reach young evangelicals and Catholics. He just announced an overhaul and funding increase for faith-based organizations. His campaign plans to host Christian rock concerts and faith-based meetings in dorms.