WASHINGTON, June 28 (UPI) -- A liberal U.S. Catholic group says a poll scheduled for release in mid-July shows Catholics are split down the middle on the upcoming presidential election.
Catholics for A Free Choice, the group that commissioned the poll, said the survey will show support for President George W. Bush and Sen. John F. Kerry split at 40 each among the 2,239 U.S. Catholics surveyed.
The group said that data also shows the level of confidence in the president's ability to manage the war in Iraq is the best predictor of how Catholics will vote in November.
More than two-thirds of respondents, 39 percent, said they attend religious services one or more times a week while 14 percent attend at least once a month. Almost half, 47 percent, said they attend religious services a few times each year or not at all.
The complete poll, conducted June 2-10 by the Washington-based polling firm Belden Russonello and Stewart, has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.1 percent and is scheduled for release on July 13. Catholics for a Free Choice was originally formed to advocate in favor of legalized abortion in the United States.
