Buffalo and the Western MY area is HIGHLY Catholic, with huge Irish, Italian, Polish, and now Hispanic communities, and has been as liberal and corrupt as it comes for DECADES.
And the Catholic church there is absolutely no better. Some of what FRoman Catholics consider their worst leaders have been in that area.
I certainly believe these poll results because it fits with everything I know about Catholicism and the Catholics I personally have interacted with.
While some FReepers rightfully point out that there are conservative Catholics out there, the simple fact is that Dem power bases are always centered around Catholic clusters.