CBNNews.com - Focus on the Family Founder Dr. James Dobson has made it quite clear that his vote for president come next November won't be cast for Republican candidate Fred Thompson for a number of reasons.

Click on the video player for a CBN News segment on Dobson's take on Thompson.

"Isn't Thompson the candidate who is opposed to a constitutional amendment to protect marriage, believes there should be 50 different definitions of marriage in the U.S., favors McCain-Feingold, won't talk at all about what he believes, and can't speak his way out of a paper bag on the campaign trail?" questioned Dobson.

"He has no passion, no zeal, and no apparent 'want to,'" the Focus founder continued. "And yet he is apparently the Great Hope that burns in the breasts of many conservative Christians? Well, not for me, my brothers. Not for me!"

A primary concern Dobson raises about Thompson is his position on gay marriage, as the former Tennessee senator stated that he would support a constitutional amendment prohibiting states from forcing their gay marriage laws on other states - a stance the evangelical leader considers to run contrary to Christian values.

A constitutional amendment banning gay marriage on a national scale is supported by Dobson and many Christian conservatives, and Thompson's position has raised doubts in the minds of many about his faith.

Dobson highlighted a recent news story on Thompson in an e-mail addressed "Dear friends," in which the Law and Order actor stated that even though he was baptized in the Church of Christ, he is not a regular churchgoer and won't speak about his faith on the stump.

After Dobson questioned Thompson's devotion to Christianity in a report published in U.S. News and World Report earlier this year, he wrote in his recent e-mail that what he believed "about the former senator's never having professed to be a Christian are turning out to be accurate in substance."

In a March phone interview, Dobson was candid about his doubts.

"Everyone knows he's conservative and has come out strongly for the things that the pro-family movement stands for, but I don't think he's a Christian, at least that's my impression," said Dobson before commenting that the presidential hopeful would have a hard time tapping into the Republican Party's conservative Christian base to win the GOP nomination.

The Thompson campaign responded to the questions about his Christian faith.

"Thompson is indeed a Christian," said a Thompson spokesman. "He was baptized into the Church of Christ."

Focus on the Family was quick to reply to this proclamation.

"We were pleased to learn from his spokesperson that Sen. Thompson professes to be a believer, Dobson spokesman Nima Reza stated. "Thompson hasn't clearly communicated his religious faith, and many evangelical Christians might find this a barrier to supporting him."

Thompson's stance on issues concerning Christians was further addressed by his campaign.

"Fred Thompson has a 100 percent pro-life voting record," added Thompson spokeswoman Karen Hanretty. "He believes strongly in returning authority to the levels of government closest to families and communities, protecting states from intrusion by the federal government and activist judges."

"We're confident as voters get to know Fred, they'll appreciate his conservative principles, and he is the one conservative in this race who can win the nomination and can go on to defeat the Democratic nominee," concluded Hanretty.

But it is still not clear who the majority of evangelical Christians will choose to champion their beliefs while in office.

"They're looking for someone to head off Rudy Giuliani," said Regent University's Dr. Charles Dunn. "Some evengelicals want Thompson to be that person, but others want Newt Gingrich."

Last year, Dobson commented that because of GOP candidate Mitt Romney's Mormon faith, it would be unlikely that many evangelical Christians would vote for him.

Dobson declared earlier this year that he would not vote for Republican candidate John McCain due to his challenge to a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

The Focus founder also said that he would not support Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani if he won the GOP nomination, calling him an "unapologetic supporter of abortion on demand." Dobson also mentioned how Giuliani signed a 1997 bill to set up benefits for domestic partners in New York City. The former New York mayor's values were also questioned by Dobson, who pointed out that Giuliani and his wife were in their third marriage.

Many conservative Christians remain discontent with the choices they have so far in the Republican presidential race, and most remain divided as to who they will back come election time.

Sources: CNN, The Associated Press, CBN News, Christian Newswire, U.S. News & World Report