In trying to explain two consecutive presidential defeats, some Republican commentators blame Christian evangelicals for the perceived decline in their political participation.

But 2012 exit polls showed 26% of all voters identifying as “White Evangelical/Born-Again Christians” – a significant increase from the 23 percent who described themselves that way in 2004, the last time a Republican won. Moreover, that winning candidate, George W. Bush, did no better among his fellow evangelicals than did the Mormon Mitt Romney – both got a commanding 78% of such voters.

In religious terms, Obama’s margin of victory came entirely from the small minority who say they “never” attend church – they preferred the president by 28 points! Among the 82% who visit churches even a few times a year, Romney won a solid majority. For his re-election victory, Obama can thank the Godless as much as God.