Analysis By Dalia Sussman, ABCNEWS.com

Jan. 26 Americans split down the middle on whether presidential candidates should publicly discuss their religious beliefs, with majorities of Democrats and Republicans taking opposite sides on the issue.

In an ABCNEWS.com poll. 45 percent say candidates should bring their religious beliefs into the campaign discourse but 47 percent say not. On the yea side are 58 percent of Republicans; on the nay, 57 percent of Democrats.

Candidates from Republican George W. Bush to Democrat Al Gore have been discussing their faith on the campaign trail and invoking the Bible in stump speeches. At a GOP debate in Iowa last month, half the GOP presidential candidates (Bush, Sen. Orrin Hatch and Gary Bauer) named Jesus as the philosopher or thinker who has had the most influence on their lives.

Bill Bradley has been the exception, characterizing his religious beliefs as a personal matter. As the table above notes, his position is more in line with the majority Democratic position, though its a closer call among independents.

Income

In addition to political identity, age and economic status seem to have an effect on these views, with higher-income and younger Americans preferring that candidates not discuss their religious convictions.

Methodology

This ABCNEWS.com survey was conducted by telephone Jan. 19-23, among a random national sample of 1,004 adults. The results have a three-point error margin. Field work was done by ICR-International Communications Research of Media, Pa.