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God Gap?

Mark Silk

GOM argues that there is a “God gap” between Obama and Clinton because Obama picked up a higher percentage of “Nones” than of Protestants or Catholics in Oregon. But it’s worth keeping in mind that the this gap has always been about worship attendance regardless of religious affiliation. Thus, the God gap between Democrats and Republicans reached 20 percentage points in 2000-2004, as measured by the preference of frequent attenders (once a week or more) for Republicans. In 2006, that number declined to 14 percent. In Tuesday’s Democratic primary in Oregon, there was virtually no difference between Obama and Clinton by attendance. Weekly and occasional attenders went for Obama 58-41; those who said they never attend did the same by 59-41.

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