At Downtown Prayer Rally, Tennesseans Urged To Vote — Even If They Don’t Like The Candidates

Get out and vote.

That was famed pastor Franklin Graham’s message to a crowd of a few thousand people who took part in a midday rally at the state Capitol Tuesday.

Nashville was the latest stop in Graham’s
Decision America 2016 tour. He plans to hit all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, by the end of September.

The rallies are being organized through churches and religious networks. The son of the noted televangelist
Billy Graham wants to be sure Christians aren’t so disheartened by this year’s election that they stay home.

“You may just have to hold your nose, and vote for one or the other,” Graham said. “But I’ll tell you right now, you vote. Do it.”

Graham avoided giving any indication which — if any — of the remaining presidential contenders he prefers. He says he has little faith in either party, but he believes the races farther down the ballot are too important not to vote.

It was a message that resonated with Judy Pass of Madison. She calls this election the ugliest she’s seen in her nearly 70 years.

“And even petty, putting down, talking about the way people look,” she said. “It’s just, politicians need to have a higher conscience.”

Pass says she’d been discouraged enough by the tone of the race to consider sitting this year’s election out.

But Graham had her convinced that she still needs to vote.