Catholics Voting for Republicans Again

White Protestants vote overwhelmingly Republican and religiously unaffiliated voters cast their ballots overwhelmingly for Democrats. That’s no surprise. But what was different about these recent elections is that Catholics are now swinging back toward the GOP :

Among all Catholic voters, 54% voted for Republican congressional candidates in 2010, up 12 points compared with 2008. Among white Catholics, nearly six-in-ten (59%) voted Republican in 2010, compared with 39% who voted Democratic. By comparison, 52% of white Catholics voted for Republican congressional candidates in 2008, and 49% voted Republican in 2006.

What changed between the 2006 and 2008 elections that could explain the shift? Any theories?

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