Obama speaks about ‘faith’ in new video

Washington: Amid hectic campaigning and loud electoral rhetoric, the Obama campaign has quietly released a video that features the US President speaking about his faith and several faith leaders lending moral, even biblical backing to his policies. The web video comes just three days before the US finally goes to polls, when the two candidates are busy trying to woo any undecided voter on the American soil, and this one clearly targets the Conservative vote. "In my moments of prayer, I`m reminded that faith and values play an enormous role in motivating us to solve some of our most urgent problems," Obama is seen speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast. The video also features various faith leaders who talk about a moral or Biblical ground for Obama`s policies like higher taxation for the higher earners and health care accessibility to everyone. The faith leaders that have lent support to Obama include Bishop Vashti McKenzie, Professor Catholic Studies Stephen Schneck, and Rabbi Samuel Gordon. "President Barack Obama is leading with faith values," McKenzie says. Faith has always been an important factor in American politics, and the Republicans have gone all out to woo the conservative vote this time, with some like Richard Mourdock even earning brickbats for controversial and extreme views on women. The election is also historic as for the first time it has put a Mormon Christian candidate, in Mitt Romney -- in line for the presidential post. If Romney wins, he would be the first Mormon to become the US President. While Obama`s faith has always been a talking point, he has several times referred to faith and God in his speeches and utterances. "I believe in country that rewards hard work and responsibility, a country where we look after one another, a country where I say I`m my brother`s keeper, I`m my sister`s keeper," Obama is shown speaking on the campaign trail in the video. Schneck described Obama as a president for Americans of all faith. "This is a president that reaches out to Americans of all faiths to Muslims and Buddhists, and every Christian denomination. We need a president with arms reaching out in that kind of interfaith way," Schneck said. PTI