Falwell's Son Urges Conservative Pastors To Get Out the Vote

Forty percent of Virginia voters identified themselves last year as born-again Christians, according to exit polls. But social conservatism in Virginia has had difficulties in recent statewide elections.

Democrats won two consecutive governor's races and last year's U.S. Senate race despite a strong effort by social conservatives.

Abortion rights and gay rights groups are vowing to match the efforts of the Family Foundation, which distributes tens of thousands of voter guides ranking candidates by their stance on key issues.

Jessica Bearden, deputy director of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, said Virginia could be one of the first states to outlaw abortion if the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

"This is really crunch time for pro-choice voters," Bearden said. "It's time for us to vote our values and say, 'We are not going to stand for the General Assembly telling our doctors how they can treat us.' "

Dyana Mason, executive director of Equality Virginia, a gay rights organization, predicted that the Family Foundation's efforts will fail.

"There is more than one way to be a person of faith on these issues," Mason said.

In the 2008 session of the General Assembly, Cobb said, the Family Foundation will fight efforts to add protection of gays to the state's hate crime laws and seek to limit abortions, including requiring doctors to offer a woman a chance to get an ultrasound before she has the procedure.

Cobb said the organization will also push restrictions on payday lenders and fight proposals to expand gambling.

After his speech, Falwell said he expects to be visible into next year's presidential election.

"I had a good teacher," Falwell said. "I can assure you, I am going to do what my daddy told me, and I am going to stand up and speak for the issues I care about."