Earlier today I reporrted that Brian Williams had invented the basis for the question about the Mormon issue he asked last night. That was incorrect. The poll Williams cited did in fact include such a question:
24. We often hear people talk about the importance of unifying the country. Let me read you a series of different kinds of people who might become president. For each one, please tell me whether you feel that a person with this kind of background would make it easier to unite the country, harder to unite the country, or that it would really not make that much difference. *
.THIS TABLE HAS BEEN RANKED BY THE PERCENTAGE WHO SAY EASIER TO UNITE THE COUNTRY
Easier To Unite TheCountry/Harder ToUnite TheCountry/Makes NoDifferenceEither Way/NotSure
A woman ...................................................... 23 29 44 4 [251]
An African American ................................... 16 25 55 4 [249]
An evangelical Baptist preacher................. 9 46 40 5 [247]
A person who is over age seventy ............. 6 37 53 4 [248]
A Mormon .................................................... 3 44 49 4 [250]
* Asked of one-half the respondents (FORM A).
I apologize to Williams for the error.