End of 'Catholic vote'? Other categories may predict election better

Published: 2004-11-10

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The "Catholic vote" sought with such determination in this year's presidential race went to President George W. Bush by about the same margin the rest of the country voted for him. As they study results from this year's election, analysts are suggesting that the frequency with which people go to church may be a better predictor of how people vote than their religious affiliation. In programs around Washington in the days following the Nov. 2 election, political scientists, pollsters and journalists exercised a little 20/20 hindsight in explaining who voted how this year. Among the common themes of the sessions were the exit poll finding that "moral values" was the most important issue for voters and Bush's stronger support among those who attend church most frequently. Exit polling done for The Associated Press and television networks by Edison Media Research/Mitofsky International, found that 52 percent of Catholics voted for Bush and 47 percent voted for Democratic Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts. Bush was elected with 51 percent of the popular vote, compared to Kerry's 48 percent.

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