THE PEW FORUM AND REUTERS-IPSOS POLL FINDINGS ON RELIGION, WEALTH, AND CULTURAL IDENTITY, VIEWS OF 2012 ELECTORATE .......

The Pew Forum for Religion and Public Life in a polled survey taken of registered voters between June 28th, - July 9th, found that the majority knew Governor Mitt Romney's Religion is the Mormon Faith and are Comfortable with it.  At the same time there is Lingering Doubt about President Barack Obama's Christian Faith, with less than a majority describing him as such or Comfortable with it.  A majority of 60% know Romney is a Mormon; 9% think he is another Religion; and 32% do not know what Romney's Religion is.  Of those who know Romney is a Mormon, 60% say they are Comfortable; 19% are Uncomfortable; and 21% said it makes No Difference.  The greatest Uncomfortability with Romney being a Mormon is found among White Evangelicals, Black Protestants, Agnostics, and Atheists.  However, the survey also found that despite the qualms they have over Romney's Mormonism, White Evangelicals are most likely to support his Presidential candidacy, among these four subgroups.  As to what Religion Obama is 49% said Christian; 17% answered Muslim; 3% think he is another Religion; and 31% Do Not Know.  Also, 45% are Comfortable with Obama's Faith; 19% are Uncomfortable with it; 5% said it Makes No Difference or Don't Know; and 31% Do Not Know Obama's Religion.  The Pew Forum findings published in July. are at variance with a Reuters-Ipsos Poll released on September 11th, that shows 35% of Southern Evangelicals say they are less likely to vote for a Mormon candidate for President, given the Religious differences between them and Mormons, abd despite Mitt Romney's commencement address at the Evangelical, Liberty University in Virginia this Spring, in which he said, "People of different faiths like yours and mine...can meet in service, in share moral convictions about our nation from a common worldview", as he attempted to form common ground with the Evangelical Christians, to support his candidacy for the White House.  Reuters-Ipsos polling data over the past several months throughout the Bible Belt in the South, finds that 38% of respondents said they are Less Likely to vote for a wealthy Presidential candidate versus one who is not; contrasted with 20% who say they would be Less Likely to vote for an Afro-American Presidential candidate.  Convincing as well as turning out the Evangelical voters nationwide, as well as in the South; along with prevailing among Independent voters, may well be a critical factor in the outcome of this 2012 Presidential Election, forty five days from today............Fr.  Troy