McCain's "Un-Christian" Campaign? Fascinating Exit Poll Results from Beliefnet.com

[RepublicanElephant]

got this email yesterday:

Beliefnet has just released a fascinating Election Exit Poll Survey of 4,400 of its users. It's not a random sample, but the size of the group enabled us to do some fascinating slicing and dicing -- in particular getting a glimpse at the differences between Obama's most religious voters and the McCain religious voters.

We'll be posting loads of charts soon, and Steven Waldman will be blogging on specific aspects of these in the coming days. You can see his initial post here: http://blog.beliefnet.com/stevenwaldman/2008/11/beliefnet-election-survey.html



Here are a few highlights:



Religious Obama voters and religious McCain voters worship and pray at similar rates, but interpret the Bible in dramatically different ways and have starkly different views of the issues—including on how best to reduce abortion—according to a new user survey conducted this week on Beliefnet.com, the leading multi-faith Web site.



The survey provides a unique glimpse into the voting patterns and preferences of the most religious Obama and McCain constituencies―those who attend church weekly or more―along with evangelical voters. Exit polls indicated that 55% of those who attend worship services weekly or more voted for McCain, while 43% voted for Obama, an improvement over past Democratic performances.



Among those who attend church weekly, 81% of Obama supporters pray daily compared to 93% of McCain's supporters. But when asked how they interpret the Bible, only 17% of Obama's most religious voters believe "The Bible is the literal word of God,” compared to 58% of McCain's religious voters.



The survey, which can be viewed in its entirety at http://www.beliefnet.com/ExitPoll, also provides new detail comparing evangelical supporters of both McCain and Obama.



Other key findings include:



57% of Obama voters said John McCain ran "a more unchristian campaign than Obama"―30 percent of McCain folks said so of Obama


While McCain voters listed Jeremiah Wright as Obama's top character issue, Obama voters considered the tone of McCain's campaign to be that candidate’s most significant character issue


Half of McCain voters believe Obama is or was a Muslim, with 32% saying "He used to be Muslim and still has too many connections to Islam"


Among the most religious voters, Obama supporters believe that education is the best way to reduce abortion, while McCain supporters prefer bans and restrictions on abortion


Although politically more liberal, Obama's evangelicals pray and go to church about as much as McCain's evangelical supporters


Supporters of each candidate doubt the religious sincerity of their opponents


Obama's most religious voters care considerably less about "values" issues than McCain voters do:


Obama evangelicals were twice as likely to list "reducing poverty" as a high priority


The survey was conducted from November 3 through November 6, 2008, and was promoted in Beliefnet newsletters and throughout the site. 4,400 users completed the survey, which was neither scientific nor based on random sampling. Because of the breadth of Beliefnet’s audience however, the survey provides a unique look at the nuances of different religious groups.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Interesting that Obama supporters say

reducing poverty as top priority. Seems to me that Jesus said something about the poor being blessed. Don't recall him saying anything about abortion or gay marriage....

[Wheezy]

2. there are many of us in the religious left.

Our voices have been drowned by the religious right but we continue to speak as loudly as we can.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Yes, I know

I think those on the religious left tend to live their lives by the teachings, which warn against making a big display of their sanctimony and stress actions, often done quietly.

[Enthusiast]

5. On Beliefnet U.S. Politics

right wing posters decry any measure by the government, to combat poverty, as socialism. It is an interesting place but it is now owned by Fox News!

[texpatriot2004]

4. Very unChristian behavior from McCain's campaign nm