As his campaign closes in on the midterms, the U.S. Senate hopeful recently told an audience that he feels like the underdog.
"This race reminds me of that story in the Bible of a shepherd boy who goes up against a giant," he said at the campaign rally in San Marcos, Texas, on Thursday.
In the Old Testament story, the odds are seemingly insurmountable.
"We are going up against our own Goliaths, those billionaire mega donors, those corporate PACs, the entire Washington, D.C., establishment," Talarico said.
Then he seemed to call his supporters tools, telling them, "You are my slingshot."
Though some voters might not even know the story of David and Goliath comes from the Bible, even the biblically illiterate understand that the story teaches that faith, courage and trust in God can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Talarico has made his Christian faith a central part of his campaign, presenting his progressive policy positions as consistent with his interpretation of Christianity and seeking to connect with voters who consider faith important in evaluating political issues. That approach has resonated with some Christians while prompting strong theological objections from others, particularly over abortion and gender.
"He has a habit of co-opting the faith he claims when it's convenient to him," observes American Family Association (AFA) Vice President Tony Vitagliano.
Just as the Democrat's claims that "God is nonbinary" and that "the Bible is silent on abortion" do not hold up, he says this analogy does not either.
"It was the heart of David that drew God to choose David and to use him," Vitagliano asserts. "It was his heart first. God sees the heart, not what man sees."
He thinks Talarico would benefit from actually being more like David.
"A lot of these politicians, not just Talarico, would do well to examine their own hearts before God and to conduct themselves and to live their lives in a way that is righteous and pleasing to Him," the AFA spokesman concludes.
Editor's Note: The American Family Association is the parent organization of the American Family News Network, which operates AFN.net.
