Over at The New Yorker this week, Peter Boyer has a long and interesting look at the Democrats’ struggle to capture religious voters, and plant their flag squarely on their turf. But it’s just as much about the Republican toe-hold on that precious territory.

The piece, titled “Party Faithful”, has a cast of thousands that includes everyone from John Hagee, Deal Hudson, Doug Kmiec, Karl Rove, Michael Novak and William Donohue to James Dobson and Rick Warren.

Plus, of course, McCain and Obama.

Take some time and read the whole thing. It’s revealing, and a little dispiriting. This is what the gospel has come to represent in the political sphere: one more commodity to be cornered, packaged, and spun.