The Religious Divide In The U.S.

Voters who frequently attend religious services tilt 63-37 percent to Bush and those who never attend lean 62-38 percent toward Democrats.

President Bush is a churchgoing Christian who often mixes theology with public policies ranging from the war on terrorism to a ban on a specific type of late-term abortion. (el - Sorry, he doesn't often attend church. He is surrounded by a chruch-going staff but he himself goes only several times a year)

In contrast, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, said recently that he prayed privately, but quit being an Episcopalian in a dispute with his parish over a bike path, recently linked God with guns and gays in a list of issues that shouldn't influence voting and doesn't regularly attend church. Nor do most of his chief rivals.

Lieberman, who does speak the language of faith and religion, said his party should set aside its aversion to religion and embrace it as a message harmonious with its core principles. But he insisted that any such stance must be born of principle, not politics.

"I didn't become religious because of a focus group," he said. "I have a sense of mission. ... Republicans act as if they have a monopoly on values or faith-based values. They don't."