How any practicing Catholic who understands their faiths teaching could vote for a Democrat is beyond me...
However, Obama won by basically disgust at Bush, than anything else... Conservatives stayed home. At least in my state... had PA Voter turn out been the same across the state as it was in ‘04, Obama likely would not have won, even with the higher votes he got in Pittsburgh and Philly.
Fact is, the BUSH administration, IMHO was horrible at PR. They rarely got out their message or even tried to.. They let the opposition brow beat them daily, usually with lies and half truths, and instead of vehemently defending themselves daily they just quietly kept on keeping on. And while they were largely doing the right things, they never effectively countered the crap, so the crap in the general consciousness became fact.
This set the stage for depressed voter turnout, and silliness that was the 08 election.
If the Bush presidency teaches any lessons it should be, NEVER EVER let an allegation go unchallenged. Respond hard, fast and to EVERY single attack that is made.
Practicing Catholics don't. Those that only attend Mass on Easter and Christmas do.