Former Christian Coalition head Ralph Reed urged Sen. John McCain to step up efforts to reach out to evangelical voters in order to make a Republican victory in November "doable."

Reed said if the presumptive GOP nominee continues to build bridges to religious voters, he can win more than 70 percent of the evangelical vote and attract the kind of eager supporters that boost turnout.

Gregory Smith/AP (ENLARGE)

Ralph Reed signs a copy of his first novel 'Dark Horse' for Jared Thomas at a book signing in Atlanta Thursday.

ELECTION 2008 The Road to the White House • Georgia Voter Guide • Guide to 2008 election • Tell us: What do you think of Biden being on Obama ticket? • Photos: Obama, Biden campaign together • Photos: Biden career Latest Headlines: McCain scrappy, Obama calm as race nears end  Jesse Jackson dodges Obama questions  In McCain, Obama, 2 approaches to Wall St.  A debate night of discipline and muted contrasts  Rescue plan seeks $700B to buy bad mortgages  Tennessee legislator's son at center of Palin hacking speculation  Investigator: Palin probe to end before election  • Georgia politics page • Presidential campaign • Conventions coverage

"If he does, then the South is gone for Obama," Reed said Thursday at an Atlanta Press Club event. "He'll carry a solid South and he can move on to Ohio."

Encouraged by high primary turnout in Georgia, Mississippi and other states with large black populations, Obama's campaign is looking to capture Southern states once thought firmly in the red column.

Reed said much of the nation still has concerns about Obama, in part because of his ties to his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright. The minister came under fire after excerpts of some of his sermons — in which he cursed America and accused the government of conspiring against blacks — gained notoriety on the Internet.

"Left to their own devices, the American people desperately want to elect a Democrat, but it's very unclear whether they want to elect Barack Obama," Reed said. "And that's the problem. The sheen has come off."

Reed is familiar with how a tough campaign can tarnish a reputation.

He was once considered unstoppable in Georgia politics, having led the conservative Christian Coalition to national prominence before he stepped down in 1997 and then served as chairman of the Georgia GOP. He played a key role in building grass-roots support that lifted Sonny Perdue to a surprise victory in the 2002 governor's race.

Reed left the behind-the-scenes work in 2006 to run for Georgia's No. 2 job, breaking early fundraising records and scaring some big names out of the race. But Reed was hampered by ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and was handily defeated in the primary by Casey Cagle, then a little-known state senator.

Reed has since ventured back into the political spotlight, appearing on CNN as an election-night analyst and most recently writing the novel "Dark Horse" about a third party candidate who shakes up a tight presidential election.

He's returned to the speaking circuit to tout his book, and he's also eager to give advice about how the GOP should attract a young, conservative electorate.

One of his tips: McCain should pick a "younger, attractive" vice president who can galvanize young voters. He mentioned Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty in particular.

"If we concede a whole generation to Obama," he said, "we'll pay the consequences."