Poll: McCain And Obama Tied Among Catholics

Douglas Kmiec is the kind of Catholic voter the GOP usually doesn't have to think twice about. The Pepperdine law professor and former Reagan Justice Department lawyer (Samuel Alito was an office mate) attends Mass each morning. He has actively opposed abortion for most of his adult life, working with crisis pregnancy centers to persuade women not to undergo the procedure. He is a member of the conservative Federalist Society and occasionally sends a contribution to Focus on the Family.

He is also a vocal supporter of Barack Obama. Kmiec made waves in the Catholic world in late March when he endorsed the Democratic candidate. But Kmiec insists that while he still considers himself a Republican, his choice is clear this election year. "I have grave moral doubts about the war, serious doubts about the economic course Republicans have followed over the last seven years, and believe that immigration reforms won't come about by Republican hands," he says. "Senator McCain would not be the strongest advocate for the balance of things that I care about."

A new Time poll of Catholic voters reveals that Kmiec is part of a broader pattern. Although Obama was thought to have a "Catholic problem" during the Democratic primaries, in which Hillary Clinton won a majority of Catholic votes, he has pulled even with John McCain among that constituency--Obama now polls 44% to his GOP opponent's 45%.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[NoFactsJustTruth]

Another way to spell DOOM for Mc-same-ol'-same-ol'...

[Troubledwawa]

Well on the bright side for McCain, the Neocons and older Evangelists are somewhat happy with him now.

Yup, he's proving his loyalty to the cause, alright.

[MargaretO]

I and my Catholic family will be voting for Obama.

[Yola]

Is this correct? I thought Obama had a problem getting the Catholic votes... or was that Latino, nah maybe women. I am getting confused here, I really will stop watching MSM because it is clear they know nothing!

[amst]

Well to here Scarborough, Buchanan and several other pundits, Obama "will never" get the Catholic vote. I doubt they'll change their tune now. However, this tells me that is great news. if he's tied now, he'll likely end up winning the Catholic vote IMHO. As a Catholic, I can't say I look at a person's religion as a deciding factor in my vote, unless of course, I felt that candidate would try to press everyone to his/her religion.

You go Obama. Oh, and all the Obama people here, trust me....don't believe everything the media is telling you. I've seen them downplay Obama's gains and/or appeal. Double check everything.

[longnow]

Catholics for McCain? I don't think so.
He doesn't even look like he's going to make it to Nov 08.
That actually means that if McCain is still the GOP
nominee you have to vote for the VP who will probably
take over before the first term is up. That means Jeb Bush
or Romney. Want another Bush as President? I don't think so.

[justobserve]

Any problem for Obama that was spun by the Clintons to argue their case for the nomination against voters' will is just that: a spin! all the polls after he became the presumptive ominee showed that Obama won in such group or states that he was supposed to have problem. What real "problem" could he have that he won the powerful Clinton machine?

[Gma11]

Good news!

Great graphic on that site.

[Ladyrantsalot]

Aside from the abortion and gay marriage issues, everything the Republicans stand for contradicts fundamental Catholic teachings regarding the poor, labor, peace, justice, community, etc. No Republican policies relating to the Iraq war, health care, expanded unemployment insurance, taxes, the environment, services for the poor, etc. can at all be reconciled with Catholic teachings. Conservative Catholics don't care, but most Catholics are very supportive of most Democratic policies and, as far as I can tell, are fed up with the Republican party. In fact, if the Church wants to draw back significant numbers of alienated lapsed Catholics, it should reign in right-wing bishops, cardinals, and priests who equate conservative, Republican political ideology with Catholic teaching.

[trinity]

"In fact, if the Church wants to draw back significant numbers of alienated lapsed Catholics, it should reign in right-wing bishops, cardinals, and priests who equate conservative, Republican political ideology with Catholic teaching."

That is the main reason I have been "searching" for other churches lately. I would much rather stay Catholic, but I am getting tired of the main focus of the Catholic churches around here being pro-life & anti-gay agendas. I feel like I am walking into a conservative bible belt church sometimes. This was not the Catholic church I grew up with in the late 70's & 80's, where the priest spent his time preaching about helping the poor and oppressed, ending hatred/war, being kind to your neighbor, and just being selfless/humble in general. I know I am not alone, the only reason the Catholic Church in the U.S. has had steady membership is all the Mexican immigrants coming in. Many of the native born Catholics have moved on.

I hope the fact that many Catholics will vote for Obama this time will start a shift away from the right wing agenda.

[kjdwyer]

The truth is that there really is no Catholic vote, per se. There hasn't been for a very long time. If you track the percentage of votes from people who identify themselves as Catholic, they break down pretty much exactly as the general vote across the country. There are liberal catholics and arch conservative catholics, church going catholics and lapsed catholics, etc. and a lot of people who are being counted as Catholics, such I, who -- while I was born and raised as such, received communion and was confirmed -- would never in a million years identify myself as Catholic.

In every one of the last nine elections, the winner had the "Catholic vote" (with the possible exception of Gore in 2000 and one could argue that they picked the winner then, as well; they were certainly in the majority with the popular vote, anyway). Does that mean that there's a discernable Catholic block or that Catholics sway in the political wind like the american electorate in general?

[speeddeeps]

How can senator O win the northeast( swm base) without the catholic vote, its going to be hard

[williamg]

So, Rasmussen just released new poll numbers from -- Montana:

0bama - 48
Mc.Cain - 43

That should be very troubling for Mc.Cain.

[OuterBoroughPrincess]

The only truly shocking part of this story is that Kmeic's priest denied him communion when he voiced his support for Obama.

I'm not a religious person, but it's appalling that a person who clearly adheres strongly to his faith would be denied a sacrament based on his political affiliation. Does this priest deny communion to anyone who isn't a right wing Republican? He should be defrocked.

[trinity]

The same happened to Kerry...

[NoahVail]

Catholics are not stupid. Why is this surprising?

[coba]

exactly but they said the same thing about latinos and look at how far obama is ahead of mccain with latinos

http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/mccain-keeps-crying-over-gen-clark/

[bosshogg]

chris matthews will hate this story because this was his fav talking point against obama...............

[VOTER]

True.

I kept wondering when he was going to finally do some research and use correct facts.

He still hasn't!

[williamg]

I was thinking the same thing. He is just obsessed with the Catholic demographic.

I guess he will have to focus on his last talking point: the Bradley effect.