Even after years of reporting on religion in politics, God-o-Meter is always taken by how often a random voter turns out to be deeply influenced by his faith, and how often those voters hail from the born again tradition.

Take the newly famous Joe the Plumber’s comments yesterday about he views what the U.S. has done for Iraqis:

“Everything that Americans take for granted, I mean these guys haven’t had it – now they’ve got it. That’s an incredible thing. I don’t know if you guys are Christians or not, but that’s like someone coming to Jesus and being saved. These guys have freedom.”

Much as the establishment media overlooks the role of religion in the American electorate, interviews with average Joe voters often remind reporters that religion is an major force shaping how they see the world, and in how they vote.

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