The document discusses how faith impacted the 2008 US presidential election. It found that while the structure of faith-based politics was similar to 2004, Democrats made gains among minority religious groups but only modest gains among white Christians. Religious affiliation is closely tied to factors like race and ethnicity. Religiosity, or levels of religious commitment, further divides groups and has been a key factor for white Christian voters in recent elections. However, the overall change from 2004 to 2008 was modest, influenced by strong partisanship within religious groups and faith-based get-out-the-vote efforts.

1. The Faith Factor in 2008 John C. Green Senior Fellow The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life www.pewforum.org

2. How did the faith factor operate? 1. The structure of faith-based politics was similar in 2008 and 2004 2. Democrats made the largest gains among minority religious groups 3. Democrats made only modest gains among white Christians

3. The structure of faith-based politics 1. Religious affiliation, tied closely to race and ethnicity 2. Some “ethno-religious” groups have been key elements of party coalitions historically 3. Religiosity, such as worship attendance, creates groups within religious affiliations 4. Religiosity has been a key factor among white Christian traditions in recent times

8. Why was the change so modest? 1. The overall change between 2004 and 2008 was modest—just four percentage points 2. Religious groups are strongly partisan and partisanship affects the vote 3. The pattern of faith-based mobilization played a role in the changes that occurred