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Religion

cbayer

(146,218 posts) Sun Jun 24, 2012, 02:04 PM Jun 2012

Atheists have chance of becoming president [View all]

http://www.examiner.com/article/atheists-have-chance-of-becoming-president

June 23, 2012
Atheists have chance of becoming president

Michael McGuire
Elections Examiner

Most Americans would vote for an atheist for president of the United States, according to a Gallup Poll released Thursday.

When the question was first asked in 1958, Gallup reported, only 18 percent said they would be willing to vote for an atheist; but the number stands at 54 percent today.

The polls show a growing acceptance of a non-believing "leader of the free world," with the number rising to 40 percent in 1978 and 49 percent in 1999.

Democrats would be most likely to vote for an atheist, at 58 percent. Independents follow at 56 percent and Republicans lagging with 48 percent.

more at link

16 replies

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Atheists have chance of becoming president [View all] cbayer Jun 2012 OP

That number would go up if there were a good atheist candidate as well Bjorn Against Jun 2012 #1

Encouraging, but there is still a danger longship Jun 2012 #2

Good news. nt ZombieHorde Jun 2012 #3

You'd need a minimum of 70% among Democrats and Independents muriel_volestrangler Jun 2012 #4

I think it's the trend that is most notable. cbayer Jun 2012 #5

I credit the "Gnu Atheists" (especially the Out Campaign) putting us in the radar for that. 2ndAmForComputers Jun 2012 #10

There is also some recent data that the voting population cares less cbayer Jun 2012 #11

I'll happily take Romney becoming viable if that means Atheists becoming viable too. 2ndAmForComputers Jun 2012 #12

There is no circumstance under which I would happily take a viable Romney. rug Jun 2012 #13

If not him, it would be another, Protestant Republican, who would be just as much of a threat. 2ndAmForComputers Jun 2012 #14

Let me rephrase: there is no circumstance under which I would happily take a viable republican. rug Jun 2012 #16

Interestingly, the data leading to this article indicates that Mormons have made the least progress cbayer Jun 2012 #15

Just what I was waiting to hear. rrneck Jun 2012 #6

As an atheist gun owner progressive, you'd get my vote! :D (nt) eqfan592 Jun 2012 #8

Yeah, a snowball's chance --> daaron Jun 2012 #7

Sure ...and ALL they have to do is persuade 92.8% of those who "might" vote for them to do so dmallind Jun 2012 #9