The numbers I’ve seen indicate that the Catholic vote and white Protestant vote seem to move in the same direction (with the Protestants usually about 8 to 10 points more in favor of the GOP). I also think it’s pretty safe to say that the era of it mattering if the candidate is Catholic has long since passed (i.e. I don’t think any sizable number of non-Catholics would refuse to vote for a Catholic and John Kerry showed that Catholics are not willing to vote for someone just because they are Catholic).
I don’t think Zero is actually bright enough to realize how many people he is alienating.
If things continue like they are now, the ‘Rats will lose Congress next year. When that happens, look for Hillary to resign by the end of 2010 (depending on how badly Zero does she may leave sooner) and challenge Zero for the nomination.
The white protestant vote is always the same old GOP vote,so I don’t know what direction they could be moving in.
The Catholic vote has gone republican 5 out of the last 19 elections and 4 of those times have been in the last 13 elections so that might be a trend.
You are right about Kerry, Gore got the Catholic vote but when it came to reelecting a war time president the Catholics gave Bush 52% of their vote.
I do think though that Obama has to fear losing a group that in recent years has become a swing vote that might abandon him in 1210, that gives Catholic Bishops a lot of power.
You wrote: “I also think it’s pretty safe to say that the era of it mattering if the candidate is Catholic has long since passed (i.e. I don’t think any sizable number of non-Catholics would refuse to vote for a Catholic and John Kerry showed that Catholics are not willing to vote for someone just because they are Catholic).”
There would certainly be a problem if the Presidential candidate was a practicing Catholic... Look what they did to Bush for practicing his Faith!!
Everyone knew that John Kerry was only a self-identified Catholic ... not a practicing Catholic.