Poll: Obama Leads Among Christians

The Barna Group, a Christian research firm, shows Barack Obama leading John McCain by a substantial margin among Christian voters:

A new nationwide survey of people's candidate preference conducted by The Barna Group some movement over the past two months, with Sen. Obama maintaining a substantial 43% to 34% lead among those who are likely to vote in November, with 5% selecting minor party candidates. ...

For the most part, the various faith communities of the U.S. currently support Sen. Obama for the presidency. Among the 19 faith segments that The Barna Group tracks, evangelicals were the only segment to throw its support to Sen. McCain. Among the larger faith niches to support Sen. Obama are non-evangelical born again Christians (43% to 31%); notional Christians (44% to 28%); people aligned with faiths other than Christianity (56% to 24%); atheists and agnostics (55% to 17%); Catholics (39% vs. 29%); and Protestants (43% to 34%).

If the Barna Group's findings hold true, "this would mark the first time in more than two decades that the born again vote has swung toward the Democratic candidate."

Comments

[FebM]

10:29 PM on 08/20/2008

comment on NYT
When McCain says he wants to drastically cut taxes for the wealthiest 1% of Americans, he’s proposing a tax cut for himself and his wife.

[TN]

12:19 AM on 08/14/2008

If he gets the Christian vote it will restore my faith in this group. Heck, I might even venture out and go to church.

[Redrover666]

02:57 PM on 08/14/2008

And do what, pray for an abortion?

[Citizen08]

11:43 PM on 08/13/2008

I wonder what will happen among Christians if McCain selects a "Morman" Mitt Romney as VP!
Morman's are Christians, Right?

[Clevelanded]

02:30 AM on 08/14/2008

That's Mormen, not Mormans... JK

PS Mormon, Mormons.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

11:28 AM on 08/17/2008

McBush might as well pick Satan.

[Binx101]

10:32 PM on 08/13/2008

While polls appear to be very consistent in being inconsistent - it is more that the data is manipulated in such a way as to create a contest ... when essentially there is none.

The winner here is the corporate media with sharpened knifes to carve up the spoils of selling over a Billion dollars of advertising so far in the race for the White House. If they reported the truth, and distilled the facts for the electorate ... we'd all be reading at night and not watch any of this crappy fiction.

Of course anything can happen ... but have you ever met anyone that you care about ... anyone that you feel is a trusted mentor, confidante or comrade in arms - reveal that they admire John McCain ???

John McCain - not maverick - Desperado.

Binx101
The Almost Daily Binx
http://binx101.wordpress.com

[CocteausTwin]

10:30 PM on 08/13/2008

PTL, if you know that then you have been dated.

[spyda]

10:19 PM on 08/13/2008

I just pray that people learn the truth about McCain and we don't end up with another Bush in office! If so we're doomed and I hope people wake up and realize the true facts!! OBAMA'08

[armadillious2002]

09:57 PM on 08/13/2008

The way the modern day conservative Christian has warped and perverted Christianity into something comfortable that supports their politics, racism, and materialistic lifestyle is an abomination. Jesus himself was a fiscal if not a social liberal and when he comes back - the answer is NO! He won't be driving a SUV as Falwell invisioned.

[foxbat]

09:34 PM on 08/13/2008

Catholics 39%-29% for Obama?

Again, another one of those groups that everyone said was going to be a problem group that's turning out not to be for Obama. This was like Latinos, where Obama leads McCain roughly 2-1. This was like women, where Obama leads McCain. This was like Jews where Obama, in some polls is even more popular than Lieberman, although to be fair, Israeli Jews gave the nod to McCain.

Several have stated that Obama will need the Catholic vote among several other group votes. Biden on the ticket would probably help increase the Catholic gap a little more for Obama. The addition of Bob Casey of Pennsylvania is another potential person that may have an appeal to some crossover Catholics because of his anti-abortion stance.

[lizr]

02:07 AM on 08/14/2008

No old Anti choice white men please!

want to piss off Hillary and all her feminist buds, that would be the way to go!

[foxbat]

09:28 AM on 08/14/2008

It's time for this party, the DemocraticParty, to become a party of expansion and representation of ALL people. What's ironic about the anti-choice statement is that there are Democrats EVERY election cycle who sit in pews hearing their pastors allude to the fact that if they are *fill_in_the_blank_with_religious_preference* then they "should seriously consider" who they will vote for based solely on the abortion stance. Also, EVERY election cycle many Catholic politicians face the threat of having communion withheld over this one issue. Is that the same thing that the DemocraticParty wants to stand for; one issue condemnation? There are MANY Catholics who would be Democrats if not for that one issue.

I'm probably an oddity in the the Democratic party as I am a personal anti-abortionist. For my family, we would never consider abortion; however, I don't claim to know how others feel and I don't know their circumstances nor do I believe that I'm in a position to TELL them what they should/shouldn't do with their religious convictions. That's between them and their God.

I like what I'm seeing in Obama in that he's realizing that restricted compromise, my own term, is probably what's going to finally work to break the cycle in Washington. Obama and others have said it starts with not making "the perfect the enemy of the good." It's time for a new way of doing things and that starts at home in the Democratic Party.

[YesWeCanada]

07:58 PM on 08/13/2008

atheists and agnostics (55% to 17%)

Now here are the truely logical peeps.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

06:38 PM on 08/13/2008

This election isn't about religeon, its about the issues that effect the American people here and abroad. This is about getting back healthcare for all, no strings, jobs, keeping people's homes, allowing thier kids to be able to afford education, ending this war asap, and exposing those who chose to stage an illegal war and damn the consequences or human cost. That is what this election is about. Those who want to play the phony patriot game, make this a war about who is good and who is evil, who is pro abortion or woman's health rights, or not miss out on the bigger picture. We had too many years of that, which didn't do jack to help anyone, allowed rogue politicos to ruin our country, freedoms, kill our soldiers, lie and committ egregious acts against our own people, lie, cover it up, out a CIA op, spy on us illegally for thier own cause. Did that help anyone? Nope. Did it ruin us financially? Oh hell yes!. Basta, time for real issues to prevail and damn the torpedos!

[Apov]

10:34 PM on 08/13/2008

Thank you,
Hope our fellow citizens are as clear headed in November.
Our survival depends on it.

[reshas1]

06:17 PM on 08/13/2008

What, the black theology "Christian" churches????

[BEHM777]

07:51 PM on 08/13/2008

Exactly what are you asking? It helps to have a clear understanding of what you are talking about before you make an arse out of yourself.

Try READING the article.

BEHusseinM777

[EuroPreacher]

06:18 PM on 08/13/2008

Mc*Flip is still yet to be baptized;christianity is not his thing. He looks to the right ,lurks to the left and believes in nothing.His motto:"WHATEVER IT TAKES!"

[Cowtippin]

05:03 PM on 08/13/2008

I really hate the GOP or should I say the God Over Politics party because you people are so brainwashed by your phony believes that as long as someone goes to church and talks about good old fashion values they must be the right guy for the job. I for one want a president who thinks on his feet and is not piloted by the bible. Because when you have to refer to the bible to make the right decisions then you are not a free thinker and your no better than the half wits in the middleast that basis it society laws on there religious believes. Hence G.W Bush and now this Mccain fellow. God I pray that Obama wins so the rest of the world can stop hating us because of what your party has done to the world over the last 7 plus years.

[psychmaj323]

05:25 PM on 08/13/2008

Well, Obama does refer to his bible and he leans on it to make the right decisions. The difference between a real Christian and these phonies out here are whether they actually follow the bible. Barack follows the bible, it's how he leads his life. But, he makes sure that his decisions are logical and sound as well.

[Trogenhorse]

09:12 PM on 08/13/2008

Well said! He does rely on his faith as do I and many others. Having said that please understand that there are those who use verses to support there limited view of the world versus the people who use the bible as a whole to understand the world better. Also understand that as a catholic, I believe poverty, sickness, social justice, and peace are a big part of my faith! We believe "yes we are our brother's keeper" if he is in need and I can help should I not offer that help? Is that not the basis of Christianity? I want a president of faith! I want someone who answers not only to me but to a higher power.
I don't want someone who narrows in on what he/she thinks is important in the bible and forgets the basic teachings. Thats why I support Obama. It gets the full picture

[LarBear]

04:33 PM on 08/13/2008

From AOL... Interesting POLL...

Time Approximately 1:30 Pacific Time 13 AUG 2008...

Who do you want to see win the presidential race?
John McCain 56%
Barack Obama 34%
Someone else 10%

Total Votes: 221,066

Poll Results
What's your prediction for who will win the presidential race?
McCain, by a slim margin 46% 97,402
Obama, by a slim margin 28% 59,283
McCain, by a landslide 15% 32,650
Obama, by a landslide 11% 23,022

Note on Poll Results
Total Votes: 212,357

[adnmoh1]

05:07 PM on 08/13/2008

you do realize that most people who use aol live in red states right? on top of that this is in no way scientific as most people have better things to do with their lives than click aol polls.

[americanwomaninpa]

05:39 PM on 08/13/2008

like post on Huffpo.

[Triciann]

09:53 PM on 08/13/2008

Can you vote more than once with these polls? Certainly not scientific.

[ricehq]

06:29 PM on 08/13/2008

I can't imagine anyone using AOL being able to find a poll to vote.

[knowwhatimsayin]

04:27 PM on 08/13/2008

Check out "God Against Obama" by Frank Schaeffer in todays Huffpo. He tells it like it is regarding the Evangelicals like Dobson and clearly separates that bunch from mainstream Christianity.

[DesertLight]

04:56 PM on 08/13/2008

Thanks for the tip. That was an interesting read. Since I have over 20 years in the ministry, I can sadly say too much of that article was true when it comes down to ego centric people and narcissistic behavioral patterns run rampant in the ministry. It almost destroyed me. Then one day, I said I am not doing this to myself anymore and walked away from it. Was one of the best decisions I ever made.

I didn't leave G0d. I left the game people call, "Christianity" today.

[BEHM777]

07:55 PM on 08/13/2008

We have something in common. I left mainstream religion in 2003. My heart left it before then.

God hates religion anyway (that is how I read Matthew 23). There is a big difference between a true worshiper and a religionist--but I am sure you know that already.

BEHusseinM777

[Apov]

10:39 PM on 08/13/2008

I find it difficult if not impossible to see any relationship between the teachings of Christ and most self-declared Christians.