Opinion: A Brownback fan seeks special help

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Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback has his work cut out for him in Iowa. Despite Midwestern roots and solid conservative credentials, he is hovering around 1% in the most recent state poll, right up there with fellow Republicans Tom Tancredo, Duncan Hunter and Ron Paul. Mitt Romney leads with 25%, 11 points ahead of undeclared Fred Thompson and 12 points ahead of Rudy Giuliani.

If he doesn’t do well -- that is, finish in the top two or three -- in the Ames party straw poll Aug. 11, Brownback may be forced out of the field by the political and financial realities of the race.

So Lonnie Berger is rolling out the big guns in what he calls ‘spiritual warfare.’ He’s appointed himself prayer coordinator of praying friends of Sam Brownback and he’s mobilizing the thoughts and prayers for his man.

Working from his website, Berger warns believers, ‘When Christians vote, our values move forward in the culture war when Christians stay home, the enemy wins.’ Berger also sends out regular e-mail reminders with specific things for Brownback supporters to pray for:

‘that God would supernaturally activate the Christians in Iowa to pray and go to the straw poll to vote for Sam.’

‘for God to break the spiritual strongholds over Iowa that would keep Sam from being brought more into the national spotlight.’

‘that God would use this poll to weed out those candidates that would push our country away from the Lord.’

‘that God would bring Sam to the top and that his campaign would get huge national coverage in the media.’

Whether a single blog item and a mention in USA Today constitutes huge national coverage, Berger is not deterred. The Brownback campaign says it has no connection to the prayer group, which is not seeking to raise funds. A website disclaimer says, ‘These prayers are sent out as a personal courtesy for Senator Brownback and his family and have no association with any ministry or tax exempt organization.’

On the other hand, what harm could come from such efforts? The campaign has not gained much traction the regular political way.

--Andrew Malcolm