Americans used faith factor in choosing their president

"Other Christians" were Mr. Bush's next most powerful group of supporters (80 percent), followed by traditionalist Catholics with "traditional or conservative" views (72 percent), traditionalist mainline Protestants (68 percent), and "centrist" evangelical Protestants whose views fall midway between liberal and conservative (64 percent).

Mr. Kerry, a practicing Catholic who annoyed some in his faith because he supports abortion, found moderate support among them. Only 28 percent of traditional Catholics backed Mr. Kerry, along with 45 percent of centrist Catholics. He drew 69 percent of the support from both modernist and Hispanic Catholics, however.

Support among religious groups has shifted since the 2000 election, the poll says.

Mr. Bush had a 31 percent gain among Hispanic Protestants, a 17 percent gain among traditional Catholics, and a 12 percent gain among both black Protestants and those of "other" Christian faiths. His support was down 12 percent with atheists/agnostics and modernist Catholics, and 10 percent among all mainline Protestants.

Mr. Kerry, alternatively, gained 12 percent among both modernist Catholics and atheists/agnostics and 10 percent among all mainline Protestants. His support fell by 31 percent among Hispanic Protestants, 17 percent among traditional Catholics, 12 percent among both black Protestants and "other" Christians, and 11 percent among centrist Catholics.