poll from the Gallup organization shows that Sen. Joseph Lieberman has made history in becoming the first Jewish American to run on a presidential ticket for either of the two major political parties, and that an overwhelming majority of those questioned say that his Orthodox faith is not an issue. The August 8 survey results show that 92% of respondents said they would vote for a "generally well qualified person for president" who happened to be Jewish, with only 6% saying they would oppose such a candidate. Similar percentages are reported when asked how they feel about a Roman Catholic or Baptist candidate as well.

   A Mormon candidate generates a 79% approval rating, with 17% saying they would not vote for an LDS member.

    Atheists do not fare as well, though, according to the Gallup survey, which finds "close to half of Americans, 48%, unwilling to support an atheist for president while 49% say they would."

   The survey results were compiled between Feb. 19-21, 1999.

    Political attitudes toward religious affiliation have been changing, though. Al Gore's selection of Joseph Lieberman is frequently compared to John F. Kennedy's presidential nomination and victory in 1960, which broke the Oval Office barrier for Roman Catholics. Prior to Kennedy's election, 5% of Americans reported that his Catholicism made them feel more favorably toward him, while 19% felt less favorable. According to Gallup records, 73% said that Kennedy's religion had little or no effect on their vote.

    Further back, in 1937, 46% of respondents said they would not vote for a Jew for president, while 60% expressed a similar bias against Roman Catholics, and 33% against women.

   The March 29, 1999 release from Gallup notes that the polling organization has measured several segments of voters.

    "Being an atheist, unlike most of these other characteristics, is still not widely acceptable to the American public. The latest poll shows only 49% of Americans would vote for an atheist for president, making this the most discriminated-against characteristic of the eight tested in the research."

    Atheists lag behind blacks and gays in terms of political appeal at the ballot box. "The idea of voting for a homosexual for president remains unacceptable to 37% of the population," reported the Gallup survey, "placing it second to atheists on the unacceptable list, out of the eight groups tested. Fifty-nine percent of the population would vote for a homosexual, which is up significantly from 26% in 1978, when the question was first asked."

    Blacks generated approval from only 37% of voters in 1958, when Gallup first included this survey category. "That number rose through the 1960s and into the 1970s, although, as recently as 1987, only 79% of Americans said they would vote for a black person for president. By 1997 that number had risen to 93%, and it is now at 95%."

    In February, Newsweek magazine religion editor Kenneth L. Woodward grilled Vice President Al Gore about how he would feel if an atheist were elected to the nation's highest office. Would it bother him?

    "No it would not," replied Gore. "I think that it would depend on who the person was, of course. But do I believe that someone can have an understanding of our Constitution (and) a true spirit of tolerance without affirming a particular and specialized belief in God? Yes I do. I think that it is incumbent upon anyone who affirms a respect for tolerance."

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