New Delhi: United States President Donald Trump’s approval ratings are on a steady downturn, this time among religious groups. A new Pew Research Center study examines the religious groups shaping voter preferences ahead of the US midterm elections on 3 November.
The survey, conducted between 28 September and 4 October, has pointed to Trump’s declining hold among various religious groups.
“Even religious groups who have traditionally been his strongest supporters see him less favourably than they used to,” the study read. It added that Trump’s approval ratings among members of the studied religious groups are among the lowest of his second term.
The study also found a stark divide between White evangelical Protestants and Catholics. While the two remain a strong constituency of Republicans, other religious groups either lean toward the Democratic Party or are split between the two.
“Registered voters who support Democratic candidates are more engaged in the election and more motivated to vote than those who back Republican candidates,” the survey said.
The survey points to an overall tilt toward Democratic sentiments rather than Republican ones.
Among the White religious groups, 73 per cent of White evangelical Protestant registered voters have said that they would vote for their congressional district’s Republican candidate for the House. However, a small chunk of them, 12 per cent, say they support the Democratic candidate.
“White Catholic voters also express more support for Republicans than for Democrats in their districts, though by a much narrower margin (50 per cent vs. 32 per cent),” the research further found.
Who’s to disapprove?
Democrats are also finding more support from African-American religious groups of colour. Black Protestants, Hispanic Catholics, atheists, agnostics and those who describe their religion as “nothing in particular” are on the blue side.
“The difference between the shares supporting Republican candidates (45 per cent) and Democratic candidates (37 per cent) is not statistically significant,” the survey added.
However, this doesn’t translate into Trump’s popularity. The research said that Trump’s approval rating has dropped significantly among all US adults.
According to the survey, in most religious groups, more people disapprove than approve of Trump’s job performance. Forty per cent of White evangelical Protestants disapprove of the President, while 39 per cent of White Catholics approve. Among atheists, agnostics, the unaffiliated, and those with nothing in particular, the disapproval is clear.
“The downward trend is evident in every religious group,” the Pew research noted.