The Feb. 9-11, 2007, poll asked Americans whether they would vote for "a generally well-qualified" presidential candidate nominated by their party with each of the following characteristics: Jewish, Catholic, Mormon, an atheist, a woman, black, Hispanic, homosexual, 72 years of age, and someone married for the third time.The only demographic to not get over 50% is the Atheist at 45%. Everything else, apparently, many Americans are OK with.
|
Yes, would |
No, would not |
|
|
% |
% |
|
|
Catholic |
95 |
4 |
|
Black |
94 |
5 |
|
Jewish |
92 |
7 |
|
A woman |
88 |
11 |
|
Hispanic |
87 |
12 |
|
Mormon |
72 |
24 |
|
Married for the third time |
67 |
30 |
|
72 years of age |
57 |
42 |
|
A homosexual |
55 |
43 |
|
An atheist |
45 |
53 |
And keep in mind this poll is probably very susceptible to the Wilder Effect. If the American electorate ever is confronted with a real, dyed-in-the-wool presidential candidate who simply states that they do not believe in God, watch out for a loss of Walter Mondale proportions.
The bad news here for McCain is that as an old man, he ranks just above the homosexuals, and by only 2 points! The further bad news is that his nemesis, Rudy Giuliani can get 67% folks who say they will vote for a man in his third marriage. It looks a little better for McCain if you break it down by Ideology.
Among Conservatives, the atheist gets 29%, the old man gets 63%, the Mormon gets 66% and the guy on his third marriage, only 60%. Whew! At least McCain has a chance among GOP primary voters, but note, he doesn't get an advantage.

Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. I will vote for Hillary Clinton as she has shown strength and intelligence...and because it is about time that women be allow to show true leadership ...I do think she is a great candidate!
Enid Cruz at 2:35PM on Feb 22nd 2007
2. WHY ANYONE WOULD VOTE FOR AN ATHIEST IS BEYOND ME, UNLESS THEY ARE AN ATHIEST. COME ON OUR MOTTO IS " IN GOD WE TRUST " WHY WOULD ANYONE PUT AN ATHIEST IN OFFICE.
DEE EVANS at 11:37AM on Feb 26th 2007
3. "Why anyone would vote for an athiest is beyond me, unless they are an athiest. Come on our motto is 'In God We Trust' Why would anyone put an athiest in office..."
I may be new at this politics thing, but I was under the impression the 'motto' of the United States of America had more to do with an idea of 'liberty and justice for all', not a logo that is scribbled across the back of a one dollar bill. And I also remember there being something called the 'separation of church and state...'
But in all honesty, when did what a person chooses to do behind closed doors matter more than what they stood for in regards to the country? We've had both Catholics and Protestants in the White House and of them, some have been good men and some have not and that doesn't come down to who, what, or when they bow their head. Maybe Americans need to stop worrying about electing the first woman, or the first black person, or if the canidate belives in God, Allah or Vishnu and start focusing on which canidates will do the best for the people of the United States so that we and our children and our children's children will have a chance in this world in the future.
Mary Martin at 1:22PM on Feb 26th 2007
4. I wonder why you do not give a fair account acurate on all of the candidates running
15. Why does the media keep repeating this,about Romney? When he ran for governor in 2002, Romney declared his opposition to both same-sex marriage and civil unions. Click here for a link to a 2002 article that explains this.
There is no change. Why is it that the media attacks Romney over non existing flip-flops, but does not attack Hillary of her support, and now
opposition to the war?
you know how come we never hear of Lets say Hillary and bill past relationship with his two girlfriends,like say Monica L. of such or the other candidates Multiple Divorces such as Rudy G and how many times he has been married.
it seems to me you should be fair about all of the candidates past and their affairs.and by the way I am an evangelical voting for Mitt Romney.
It often seems that journalist would rather cause problems, than fix them . They don't even try to give an accurate portraits of what Romney believes. But this is not new. Journalist tend to over simplify things. Else why do they summarize the president's speech, when you can read the whole thing online. Why do they have to put it into their own words? Ego?
you seem to be really worried about people of faith vote by this poll you placed here I would vote for someone if they were Jewish or catholic or any one else running Just to spite your on line poll of who would vote for a catholic baptist Jewish or ect....
T&T at 11:48AM on Feb 28th 2007
5. you know you seem really interested in a poll like this
I would vote for a person who is catholic baptist mormon and evangelical and or Jewish I would not support or vote for a homosexual as Marriage needs to be between one man and one woman.
you know people of faith according to this state constitution people of faith have rights to choose which religion they want to join or be a part of
people do not have a right to create Judicial Tryanny and go above the will of the voters like lawsuites to get their point across ,so if I wanted to vote for a catholic mormon or Jew baptist evangelical but not a homosexual that is my right as a voter.because people do not have rights to change the laws or misinterpret the law or lawsuit to get their point across.
T&T at 12:02PM on Feb 28th 2007
6. I will post only one more time on this topic, to be a little more clear but,If I wanted to vote for a mormon or a catholic and or a Jew and or even an baptist and or evangelical it is my right as a voter to do so. according to the states constitution that I believe in each person has the right to choose which religion he/she want to believe in.so if I wanted to vote for a mormon and I am an evangelical baptist I have the right to do so as a voter. I would not support or vote for someone who is a homoxsexual because Marriage needs to be between one man and one woman only Kids are better in a home with a mom and a dad. same sex people do not have the right to Misinterpret the law and lawsuit to get their points accross other than that you have Judicial Tyranny when you lawsuite the state to change Marriage laws that have been their for hundreds of years. according to this states constitution a person has a right to choose his faith
I wonder why you do not give a fair account acurate on all of the candidates running
15. Why does the media keep repeating this,about Romney? When he ran for governor in 2002, Romney declared his opposition to both same-sex marriage and civil unions. Click here for a link to a 2002 article that explains this.
There is no change. Why is it that the media attacks Romney over non existing flip-flops, but does not attack Hillary of her support, and now
opposition to the war?
you know how come we never hear of Lets say Hillary and bill past relationship with his two girlfriends,like say Monica L. of such or the other candidates Multiple Divorces such as Rudy G and how many times he has been married.
it seems to me you should be fair about all of the candidates past and their affairs.and by the way I am an evangelical voting for Mitt Romney.
It often seems that journalist would rather cause problems, than fix them . They don't even try to give an accurate portraits of what Romney believes. But this is not new. Journalist tend to over simplify things. Else why do they summarize the president's speech, when you can read the whole thing online. Why do they have to put it into their own words? Ego?
T&T at 12:16PM on Feb 28th 2007
7. I'm willing to bet that most of the folks here are technically athiests with regards to Zeus, Allah, Buddha and other gods. Real athiests take it one god further and believe in no superstitions at all. As for elections, doesn't it make more sense to choose a candidate who has demonstrated integrity and intelligence rather than worry about personal religious beliefs? Stating that you are a Christian does not automatically mean you are a good person. We all know many who are not! Wheras athiests have the highest education and lowest crime rate. Look up jail stats. Prisons are mostly full of Catholics, almost never athiests.
Victoria at 1:24AM on Mar 6th 2007
8. Things changed on September 11, 2001. The War on Terror and protecting the homeland became the number one issue. Without protection the economy is going to be terrible. You cannot have the 90's again without dealing with terrorism.
People want to feel safe and have some good news for a change. People want a tough leader with an edge that can get things done. Someone who understands a multi-national approach and yet wants America to be successful instead of losing.
This generation will not tolerate another Vietnam. We long for another Ronald Reagan, someone with hope and toughness and that is what they see in Rudy.
The GOP is scared to death of Hillary. Face it even Bill Clinton never received 50% of the vote. The country is tired of the Clintons and of the Bushs. They are tired of the same tired messages of the struggle between whites and African Americans. My generation wants to live in a truly colorless society where the first thing you see is not the color of a man's skin but the person and his character. Bigotry for white and black needs to stop, we are way beyond separate lunch counters.
I want to consider Obama not because he is black, but because his ideas and messages. I do not want to judge everything based upon race. The media tells us to be color blind and then reports everything through a racial lense. A man or women should not be evaluated based upon race, but based upon who they are and what they stand for. Let someone say right now that race does not matter anymore. We are a melting pot and should live as such.
The playing field is level as far as race is concerned and we must now all live together and learn together in hope as one country.
John at 7:40PM on Mar 8th 2007