A new Pew Research Center survey on faith and politics reveals how religion is shaping the 2016 Presidential campaign.
According to the figures, only 10% of Americans are less likely to vote for a presidential candidate because he is Jewish, while 20% said they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who is an evangelical Christian. Half of all respondents said they are less likely to vote for a candidate who doesn’t believe in God.
A full 80% percent of respondents said a candidate being Jewish makes them no more or less likely to vote for him, 10% percent said they were less likely to vote for a Jew for president, and 8% said they were more likely.
Among Republicans and those leaning Republican, 10% said they were more likely to vote for a candidate who is Jewish, 7% said less likely, and 81% said it made no difference.
Among Democrats and those leaning Democratic, 5% said they were more likely to vote for a Jewish candidate, 10% said they were less likely, and 84% said it made no difference.
The openly socialist Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is the only Jewish candidate currently in the 2016 presidential race.
The poll found also found the biggest liabilities for presidential candidates:
- 51% percent of respondents said they would be less likely to vote for an atheist for president.
- 42% said they would be less likely to vote for a Muslim candidate
- 41% said they were less likely to vote for a candidate who has personal financial troubles
- 37% said they were less likely to vote for a candidate who had an extramarital affair
- 26% were less likely to vote for a gay or lesbian candidate.
The telephone poll of 2,009 American adults was conducted January 7-14 and had a margin of error of ±2.5% points.
The full report can be read here.