1) It provides a platform for certain libertarians (whose cultural familiars are liberals) to vent their hostilities about the religious. "Rightwing Christians are defiling the Holy Altar of Science"-- these guys just want a stick to beat rightward religious with.
2) Leftists want badly to chip off votes from vulnerable GOP pols in battleground states. They'd love to embarrass enough pols and libertarians with the "uncouth" associtiation with the extremely effective Christian right--at least enough to knock a few GOP Senators out of office. Just enough to turn the Senate Democratic.
And the leftists goad the libertarians into doing their work for them--"Save Science From the Heathen!"
And how are they going to do that? By appealing to the centre. Battleground states are not where you give your "base" what it wants: Religious Fundamentalism for the Right, Gun Control for the left. While those will please the extremes, they will lose the centre. And the Dems appear to be recognising this. Enjoy your new Pro-2A Dem Senator or Rep.