ocked in a tight race for the Democratic nomination, Vice President Al Gore has revealed that he would he would not be bothered if an atheist were to someday win the nation's highest elected office.

   In a story carried in the latest issue of Newsweek magazine titled "What They Believe -- and Whether It Really Matters," Gore was asked by religion editor Kenneth L. Woodward how he would feel if an atheist were elected president. Would it bother him?

   "No it would not. 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 is incumbent upon anyone who affirms a respect for tolerance."

   The vice president's remarks come as candidates head into the next round of crucial primaries in a nomination race defined in part by public professions of religious belief. Many pundits feel that campaign 2000 has established a new high water mark for the use of sectarian rhetoric, and embracing religion as a panacea for social ills.

   During the Iowa caucus debates, for instance, Republican presidential hopefuls seized any opportunity to advertise their particular religious credentials. When asked about a role model in their lives, three candidates named Jesus Christ.

   Front runner George W. Bush told the audience, "When you turn your heart and your life over to Christ, when you accept Christ as the savior, it changes your heart."

   Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, who has since dropped out of the race following a poor performance in Iowa, agreed and declared, "I think that goes without saying."

   In his profile of leading Democratic and Republican candidates, Woodward suggests that their "religious rhetoric should not be taken for a political platform," but is rather an indication of how belief has affected "their life journeys (more) than on what they would do in the White House."

   Even so, the article does not examine the position any of the White House hopefuls take on critical state-church separation issues such as vouchers, school prayer, public funding of religious groups, or the Religious Liberty Protection Act. It also does not mention the fact that both Vice President Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush both support "faith-based" partnerships between the government and sectarian groups, although the details of their respective programs may differ.

   The role of religiosity in campaign 2000 is also underscored by the other questions being thrown at candidates. When queried by Mr. Woodward, former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley responded:

   "The basic question is, do I believe in God? The answer is yes."

   Bradley, who has been noted throughout his underdog campaign for a relatively low level of religious rhetoric, admitted that private religious faith "has an impact on all aspects of life, including what one does ... as a politician."

   It was not clear if candidates other than Mr. Gore were questioned on their reaction to a hypothetical atheist being elected to the nation's highest public office. Woodward's piece touches on the strong religious disposition of the vice president, as well as that of Gov. Bush, Senator John McCain and Mr. Bradley. Regarding the GOP front runner, Woodward noted Bush's selection of Jesus as his favorite "political philosopher or thinker," than he announced during the Iowa caucus debate.

   "In effect, Bush is saying -- translated from the language of evangelical piety -- 'You can trust me because I've put my trust in Jesus.'"

   As for atheists and atheism, the nastiest treatment in the current Newsweek article is a statement by "distinguished" Talmudic scholar Jacob Neusner of the University of South Florida.

    "I'd rather have a Christian bound by Scripture, as I am, than a functional atheist, bound by nothing," he declared.

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