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American Catholic Voters Support for Kerry ...
Candidate B format that typically begin with Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for a Catholic presidential candidate whoResponses fell into three categories: Those that felt the candidates position would make them more likely to vote for the candidate, those that would be less likely to vote for that candidate, and those respondents who felt the question would not be used in their decision on a presidential candidate. These votes are split rather evenly among Red and Blue States.The polls sponsor and the pollster saw the results differently.OLeary Report publisher, Brad OLeary, saw political potential in the results: The traditional thinking among pundits suggest that the Americas catholic voters are segmented.White Catholics who attend church regularly voted for Bush, giving him 47% of Catholic vote in 2000an increase of 10 percentage points over those who sided with Bob Dole in 1996.Hispanic voters who attend church less regularly broke for Gore in 2000 and are still considered fertile grounds for Democrats.That leaves the political middle in which sides with Bush on abortion and gay marriage and with Kerry on social issues.Pollster John Zogby was less moved by the results: I am not convinced that Catholics vote as Catholics. I don't think religion is a principal identifier. I also am not sure many Catholics will be near enough to a Church to hear the Bishops' message. Those who do go to Mass frequently are mainly already conservative. And, besides, issues like the economy, the war in Iraq, and health care will probably be more important in determining how Catholics -- and all Americans -- vote.With the positions of the American Catholic clergy and Catholic politicians established, the only thing missing is the view of the Catholic voter.On average 20% of Catholic voters felt other issues other than those of a religious nature would make help them make their choice for president.Kerry received
posted by Gregory Hepburn at 3:39 AM
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