Race and Religion

The religious aspect of election of 1928 was strikingly similar to that of 1960, however the Catholic-Protestant dynamic was even more intense. Irish-Catholic Alfred Smith versus Quaker-Protestant Herbert Hoover. Al Smith had to promote absolute separation of “church” and state in order not to isolate Protestant voters. “I have taken an oath of office nineteen times. Each time I swore to defend and maintain the Constitution of the United States of America. I have never known any conflicts between my official duties and my religious beliefs.” (225). Unlike Kennedy in 1960 however, this did little to help his cause among Protestant voters as he was crushed by Hoover in the national election. During the election preachers across the country claimed that if Smith won the Pope would be on his way to America to live in Washington. Some also claimed that “a vote for Smith is a vote for the Pope.” When Smith went to Oklahoma to give a speech on the scary prospects presented by religious intolerance he was greeted by the KKK. They badgered and threatened him despite, or perhaps because, of the subject of his speech. After the conclusion of his speech, KKK member John Roach Straton thrilled thousands with a speech titled “Al Smith and the Forces of Hell. (225) The enthusiastic and large crowd signifies the link between the population and religion.
80 years later race and religion still play a huge roll in the Presidental election. Much has been made about Obama's upbringing and of his now infamous preacher. If Obama does in fact win nod for the Democrats I would expect even more to be made of his religion than what has already transpired.
This link shows video of many news casts and their opinions on this issue.
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=obama+religion&hl=en&sitesearch=
Like Smith, Obama has had to attempt to neutralize the issue at every possible turn, which for him has included being open and confident about both race and religion.