A delegate prays at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 28, 2012 during an invocation at the Republican National Convention. AFP / Brendan SMIALOWSKI
This year’s presidential tickets have a religious makeup rarely seen in US politics: none of the candidates identify as Protestant, and each ticket has a Catholic vice presidential candidate. Yet statistics show that many Americans have limited knowledge about the faiths of President Obama and Governor Romney. For the first time, a majority of Americans say the candidates’ religious beliefs are different from their own. Opinion polls found large numbers of Americans continue to think Obama is secretly a Muslim and reject the idea that Romney's Mormon faith is part of Christianity. The United States is a majority Christian nation, but how important is Christianity to winning the 2012 election?
In this episode of The Stream, we speak to Rob Boston from Americans United for Separation of Church and State (@americansunited) and Michael Cromartie from the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Members of the Stream community also join via Google+.
What do you think? How does religion factor in the US election? Send us your thoughts and comments on Facebook or Twitter using #AJStream.
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Though only citizens will vote in the 2012 elections, US power is felt worldwide through foreign policy and military might. On Thursday we look at the candidates' foreign policy positions. Record a video comment for the show.
