Survey: Religion vital for voters
Amanda Shimko
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: News
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But some think the shift in Republicans now aligning with the Democratic Party might account for the statistics.
Mark Toulouse, professor of American religious history, said since 2004, evangelical voters have been tilting toward the Democrats.
"(Evangelical Christians) recognize that there are other moral issues than abortion and homosexuality, like poverty and the war," Toulouse said.
But are there right and wrong religions?
The study states Romney is handicapped because of concerns held by voters regarding his Mormonism.
When the public has questions regarding a candidate's religion, they turn to the candidate, Toulouse said, and the questions might not be something the candidates can answer to the voters' satisfaction.
Toulouse also said there are barriers that have yet to be broken in regard to a president, but that could change this election.
"We have three persons who represent barrier-shattering ideas," Toulouse said. "A woman, a person of color and a Mormon."
Students have mixed feelings about what the study showed.
Sophomore engineering major Heather Carlson said that because she is a Christian she is more inclined to choose a Christian candidate who shares the same values and views.
But, she said, the findings show where the U.S. as a whole has come to be.
"Our country has gotten a lot less to where we expect a religious stance by a politician," Carlson said. "It is not as big (of) an issue as when we elected Bush."
Senior engineering and mathematics major Aaron Bartholomew said a candidate does not have to be very religious to win his vote, but that his or her views are seen through policy and by an overall feeling.
There is debate on whether the perceptions are true and whether Clinton and Giuliani are truly the least religious, but Riddlesperger said people will still hold their perceptions of what they believe a candidate's religiosity to be.
"Reality is perception," Riddlesperger said.
Mark Toulouse, professor of American religious history, said since 2004, evangelical voters have been tilting toward the Democrats.
"(Evangelical Christians) recognize that there are other moral issues than abortion and homosexuality, like poverty and the war," Toulouse said.
But are there right and wrong religions?
The study states Romney is handicapped because of concerns held by voters regarding his Mormonism.
When the public has questions regarding a candidate's religion, they turn to the candidate, Toulouse said, and the questions might not be something the candidates can answer to the voters' satisfaction.
Toulouse also said there are barriers that have yet to be broken in regard to a president, but that could change this election.
"We have three persons who represent barrier-shattering ideas," Toulouse said. "A woman, a person of color and a Mormon."
Students have mixed feelings about what the study showed.
Sophomore engineering major Heather Carlson said that because she is a Christian she is more inclined to choose a Christian candidate who shares the same values and views.
But, she said, the findings show where the U.S. as a whole has come to be.
"Our country has gotten a lot less to where we expect a religious stance by a politician," Carlson said. "It is not as big (of) an issue as when we elected Bush."
Senior engineering and mathematics major Aaron Bartholomew said a candidate does not have to be very religious to win his vote, but that his or her views are seen through policy and by an overall feeling.
There is debate on whether the perceptions are true and whether Clinton and Giuliani are truly the least religious, but Riddlesperger said people will still hold their perceptions of what they believe a candidate's religiosity to be.
"Reality is perception," Riddlesperger said.
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