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Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry has begun speaking more openly about his faith, a move political experts say is crucial to chipping away at President George W. Bush's advantage among churchgoers.
Kerry, a Roman Catholic, rarely addressed his faith during the primary season, but from his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention last month to regular visits to black and non-denominational churches, he is talking in more detail about God's role in his life.
At the Greater Grace Temple in Springfield, Ohio, last Sunday, Kerry told hundreds of worshipers he was running as a "lay leader" but added: "There isn't any way that you're not affected by your fundamental values, the faith that brings you to the table."
And he said his faith in God had helped him through personal tragedy.
"I was at war, lost some of my best friends, those I grew up with and those I fought with," the decorated Vietnam War veteran said. "And I sort of questioned, why does this happen, why did this happen, what's going on?
"We all question. And we learn that even though suffering, through loss, we get in touch with power, with the being, with the almighty."
Couching issues like helping the poor in religious terms and discussing how his belief in God helped him persevere in Vietnam could help Kerry win over believers in a way Democratic candidates have often been unable to do, said Amy Sullivan, who has written extensively about religion and politics.
Sullivan said the faithful "often use religion as a proxy of a candidate's moral grounding. It helps them know where he's coming from."
Kerry regularly attends Catholic Mass but has often claimed a New Englander's reserve when it comes to publicly talking about his religion. In contrast, Bush, a born-again Christian who openly discusses his conversion, has made his faith a key part of his public persona.
"I don't wear my own faith on my sleeve, but faith has given me values and hope to live by, from Vietnam to this day, from Sunday to Sunday," Kerry said as he accepted the Democratic presidential nomination.
Democratic nominee Al Gore did best among those who said they never go to church, winning 61 percent of those votes.
A 2000 survey by the Pew Center for the People & the Press showed that while 70 percent of voters said it was important for a president to have strong religious beliefs, 50 percent also said they were uncomfortable when "politicians discuss how religious they are."

Copyright Reuters, 2004

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