Majority in favour of a gay President
An opinion poll in the United States has found that 55% of Americans would vote for a gay person running for President.
However, less than half would consider voting for someone who did not believe in God.
The poll, conducted by Gallup, aimed to find out the voting prejudices of Americans ahead of the 2008 election.
For the first time a woman and a black man are front runners for the nomination of a major party.
The poll was good news for Senator Barack Obama.
The Democrat, whose campaign has energised liberal Americans, is the first black candidate since Jesse Jackson ran for the party nomination in 1988.
The Gallup poll found that 94% of Americans would vote for an African-American President, reports Dallas Voice.
The news was less good for his rival for the Democratic nomination, Senator Hillary Clinton. Only 88% said they would vote for a woman President.
Mitt Romney, ex-Governor of Massachusetts and staunch opponent of gay marriage, who is running for the Republican party’s candidacy for President, will also be unhappy to learn that only 72% of Americans would vote for a Mormon.
Romney is an adherent of the Church of the Latter Day Saints who once worked as a missionary in France.
At this stage, 12 Republican politicians have declared their candidacy or have formed exploratory committees.
The eventual winner will be announced at the 2008 Republican convention at the start of September 2008.
Eight Democrats are currently in the race for their party’s nomination and the candidate will be chosen at the convention at the end of August.
The Presidential election will be held on 4th November 2008.
President Bush is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term, so the new President, whoever he or she is, will not take the oath of office until January 21st 2009.
