The strongest evidence for a tectonic shift in America’s religio-political landscape, however, comes from a Faith in Public Life survey published in October. This poll shows an astonishing turnaround among Hispanic Protestants: from 63%-37% for Bush in 2004 to 50%-34% for Obama in 2008.<\/p>\n
But the most telling data point comes in another Faith in Public Life survey, published by Public Religion Research: Americans see Obama as more friendly to religion than McCain. While 49% said Obama was “religion-friendly,” only 45% thought that description fit his GOP opponent, who in some moments during this campaign has seemed at least as pained discussing his faith as John Kerry did four years ago.<\/p>\n
When we look back at the 2008 presidential election, we will of course reckon with a handful of big stories about gender and race. But religion matters, too, and the big religion story is this: Democrats have effectively neutralized a political weapon that Republicans had wielded masterfully at least since the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980.<\/p>\n