Evangelical Christian activists were puzzled and angry today
when a representative of Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign
at the last minute canceled a scheduled appearance at a Capitol
Hill event.
The Rev. E. Terri LaVelle, a Baptist minister and senior advisor on religious affairs
to the Obama campaign, had been confirmed as a speaker at the third
annual Reese Roundtable luncheon sponsored
by two major Washington evangelical organizations, Faith and Action in the Nation's Capital
and the International Reapers
Foundation.
At the request of the Obama campaign, luncheon organizers had
reserved a table of 10 for the Illinois Democrat's supporters. Yet
sources say that, less than an hour before the luncheon, LaVelle
sent a text message to a roundtable organizer, announcing that she
would be unable to attend.
Officials were reportedly "pretty upset" by the late and
unexplained cancellation, and the table reserved for the Obama
delegation sat conspicuously empty during the luncheon. The
luncheon also featured Robert Heckman, an advisor to Republican
Sen. John McCain's campaign.
topics:
John McCain, Barack Obama
