A new Public Religion Research Institute poll out this week found that most Americans—61 percent—say personal immorality does not disqualify public officials from carrying out their duties ethically. Five years ago, only 44 percent agreed. The most dramatic change was among white evangelicals. More than 70 percent of them say personal immorality is not disqualifying for public officials. In 2011, only a third said that.
The survey also found that a strong majority of white evangelical likely voters support Trump. Catholics overall are favoring Clinton by a significant margin, although white Catholics are currently evenly divided between Trump and Clinton.
In our continuing election coverage, watch correspondent Kim Lawton’s report on Catholic voters, the divisions among them, the issues they are stressing, and the efforts of the campaigns to appeal to them.