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Religion is definitely playing a greater role in politics, and the presidential race. A national poll, given this year, by the Sacred Heart University Polling Institute, has found that Americans (60.7%), want a "religious person" to be president. But a majority (66%), also said that the candidate's specific religious affiliation was not important to them.

Dr. June-Ann Greely, SHU assistant professor of Religious Studies, explains the findings this way, "We think we can understand something meaningful about a person, a politician, if we have a sense of his/her religious beliefs, because clearly, religious belief is still esteemed by a majority of Americans."

However, the front-runners for the Democrats and the Republicans (Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani), are presently considered to be the least religious of the candidates. But Democrats have been working tirelessly, to rid their party of the reputation of being unfriendly to the religious. Barack Obama, has held "faith forums" in Iowa and New Hampshire.

It is highly recommended that the candidates need to tell their own personal faith story, in order to appeal to voters. Religion In the News writer Mark Silk, in his article, "The Democrats Get Religion", tells us that the best scenario is to have a biographical story of "moral growth and development" that comes from a time of trial, or a moment of crisis. President Bush is the role model for this, as he often told his story of drinking gone wild, that morphed into a transformation of soul and spirit. Silk reminds us, that it even came complete with "a close encounter with Billy Graham."

Hillary Clinton's liberal Methodism is more about social change that heart issues. On the campaign trail, she uses Bible verses in her speeches, talks about the teachings of Jesus admonishing us to care for the poor, and even references her own prayer life. She states that she came from "a praying family."

And who hasn't heard the intriguing account of Barack Obama's religious influences? His dad was a Muslim turned atheist, and his mom, a spiritually inclined anthropologist, who was not fond of organized religion. Obama somehow ended up at Trinity United Church of Christ, led by Jeremiah Wright, where he had a "spiritual awakening." But he had to eventually distance himself from Wright, because of his radical beliefs.

John Edwards had little to do with religion during his career as a trial attorney, but the death of his son caused his faith to reemerge. He has credited his Christian

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