Obama camp adviser works on 'God gap'

WASHINGTON, June 29 (UPI) -- The campaign of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has hired an adviser for religious affairs, officials said.

Shaun Casey was hired help the Illinois senator's campaign articulate its message to faith groups, The Nashville Tennessean reported Sunday.

The Obama camp is hoping to close the so-called God gap between religious voters and the Democratic Party.

Two-thirds of churchgoers voted for George W. Bush in the last two presidential elections. In 2004, 78 percent of evangelicals voted for Bush over Kerry.

Democrats have learned from their mistakes, said Casey, an associate professor of Christian ethics at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington.

"The big thing with evangelicals and Catholics is to show up," Casey said. "That's something Democrats haven't done in the past. You also have to have a story to tell, and Obama has a great one. And you have to be able to connect the dots between faith and the policies that bubble up on the campaign."