Who knew?

From the Associated Press, this bit of information:

People view Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rudy Giuliani as the least religious of the major presidential candidates, according to a poll released Thursday. Mitt Romney was seen as most religious, but his Mormonism may hurt him with voters.

Seven in 10 in the nonpartisan Pew Research Center poll said they believe it is important for a president to have strong religious beliefs, including broad majorities of both parties. Most also see each major presidential hopeful as at least somewhat religious — important because people who view a candidate that way are likelier to have a favorable opinion of them.

Of those expressing an opinion on the candidates' beliefs, 46 percent said they consider Romney, a Republican contender, to be very religious, far more than any other candidate. Yet a quarter of all Republicans — including 36 percent of white evangelical Protestants — said they would be less likely to vote for a Mormon.

Romney spokesman Kevin Madden said the former Massachusetts governor has "the same hopes and aspirations for his country" as voters, adding, "Any sort of abstract aversion toward him because of his denomination will likely fade."

Giuliani, the former New York mayor, was considered very religious by 14 percent, while 16 percent said the same of Clinton, the Democratic New York senator.

Clinton has spoken often of her Methodist upbringing and said her religion helped hold her marriage together. Giuliani, a divorced Roman Catholic who favors abortion rights, has said his relationship with God is private.

"There are many things about Senator Clinton that people don't know and one of those things is that she is a person of faith," said Clinton spokesman Phil Singer.

Well, I suppose that it's understandable that Clinton's religious beliefs are such a mystery. After all, it's not as though she's spent her entire life in public office.

Comments

[Tom]

A little weird that Huckabee, the only clergyman in the bunch, was not viewed as "most religious," but that may say more about his name recognition than anything else.

[cranky]

And a good, God-fearing, Rosary-saying, Ignatius-Press-reading Catholic votes for__________________.

[Tom]

Hopefully, for the candidate who is the wisest and most prudent.