http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=1132662WASHINGTON - A poll by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life suggests Catholics and Jews are more likely to vote Republican this November than they were in 2008.
The poll finds a 13-percent increase in Jews leaning Republican and a nine-percent shift toward the GOP among white Catholics. Identification with the Republican Party also increased slightly among other religious groups.
The survey finds Americans continue to view the Republican Party as more friendly to religion than the Democratic Party, although faith-friendly perceptions for both parties have declined since 2008. "Both parties -- Republicans as well as Democrats -- are facing now significant decline in the percentage of Americans who say they are friendly toward religion," says Alan Cooperman, associate director for research at the Pew Forum
on Religion & Public Life.
"Catholic voters are now moving a little more Republican...going into these elections," he adds. "Jews, who have been reliably Democratic in their voting, shifting also a few percentage points toward the Republican side."
According to Cooperman, "rising numbers" (about two-thirds) of Americans surveyed said they believe religion is losing its influence in American public life and on government leaders. (See report on poll from Pew Research Center)