The latest survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press includes analysis of the candidate preferences of major religious groups. These charts are based on results among registered voters interviewed in People-Press surveys conducted on the dates indicated. For a Nov. 2 analysis of the candidate preferences of likely voters, see the People-Press report.
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About the surveys
The information in the “Trends in Candidate Preferences Among Religious Groups” charts come from telephone surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press on the dates indicated. All results are based on registered voters. The Center’s latest report on the state of the campaign can be found here.
For the June 18-29, July 23-27 and July 31-August 10 surveys, the figures above reflect responses to the following questions:
[READ AND ROTATE]
[OR]
IF OTHER OR DON’T KNOW, ASK:
[READ, ROTATE IN SAME ORDER]
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â McCain, the Republican 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Obama, the Democrat 3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Other candidate (VOL. DO NOT READ) 9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Don’t know/Refused (VOL. DO NOT READ)
For the September 9-14, September 27-29, October 9-12 and October 16-19 surveys, question wording was changed as follows to reflect the selection of vice presidential candidates:
[READ AND ROTATE]
[OR]
IF OTHER OR DON’T KNOW, ASK:
[READ, ROTATE IN SAME ORDER]
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â McCain and Palin, the Republicans 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Obama and Biden, the Democrats 3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Other candidate (VOL. DO NOT READ) 9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Don’t know/Refused (VOL. DO NOT READ)
Beginning with the October 23-26 survey, question wording was changed as follows to reflect candidates appearing on the ballot in various states:
IN STATES WHERE BARR AND NADER ARE NOT ON THE BALLOT, ASK:
[READ AND ROTATE]
[OR]
IF OTHER OR DK, ASK:
[READ, ROTATE IN SAME ORDER]
[OR]
IN STATES WHERE BARR AND NADER ARE ON THE BALLOT, ASK:
[READ AND ROTATE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC TICKETS FIRST AND ROTATE BARR AND NADER TICKETS LAST]
[OR]
IF OTHER OR DK, ASK:
[READ, ROTATE IN SAME ORDER]
[or more to]
IN STATES WHERE BARR BUT NOT NADER IS ON THE BALLOT, ASK:
[READ AND ROTATE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC TICKETS FIRST WITH BARR TICKET LAST]
[OR]
IF OTHER OR DK, ASK:
[READ, ROTATE IN SAME ORDER ]
[or more to]
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IN STATES WHERE NADER BUT NOT BARR IS ON THE BALLOT, ASK:
[READ AND ROTATE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC TICKETS FIRST WITH NADER TICKET LAST]
[OR]
IF OTHER OR DK, ASK:
[READ, ROTATE IN SAME ORDER]
[or more to]
The table below provides details on the number of interviews conducted among each religious group reported on here. The “Sampling Error by Size of Group” table provides a sense of the magnitude of the error attributable to sampling that would be expected at the 95% level of confidence for groups of varying size. In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls.
Links to surveys: June 18-29 July 23-27 July 31-Aug. 10 Sept. 9-14 Sept. 27-29 Oct. 9-12 Oct. 16-19 Oct. 23-26 Oct. 29-Nov.1
