by Sean Bowditch

We are swimming in numbers today... The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press has come out with some intriguing new data that looks at voters' perceptions of Obama's religious beliefs. It shows that more than 1 in 10 voters believes he is Muslim, a figure that has held steady in recent months despite the strenuous efforts of the Obama campaign to debunk that myth. Interestingly, virtually an equal number of Democrats, Republicans and independents hold that view. However, believing Obama is a Muslim isn't necessarily a show-stopper. Among that 12%, 51% back McCain and 37% plan to vote for Obama. These numbers are reversed among those who believe Obama is a Christian: 52-39. But a large number of voters say they're not sure or have heard conflicting reports about his religious affiliations (has the recent New Yorker cover fueled that confusion?), an indication that the issue may continue to dog the Obama campaign down the stretch.

On CNN's Larry King Live last night, Obama attempted once again to squash the rumor that he is Muslim. But he was quick to follow with this comment, one that we only seldom hear from him:

This is actually an insult against Muslim Americans, something we don't spend a lot of time talking about. And sometimes I've been derelict in pointing that out. There are wonderful Muslim Americans all across the country who are doing wonderful things and for this to be used as sort of an insult or to raise suspicions about me I think is unfortunate. And it's not what America is all about.