---

Religious voting blocs appear to be shifting
Old allegiances no longer certain

CHICAGO - The growing influence of religion in American life is widely expected to shake up the 2004 presidential contest, realigning some traditional voting blocs in ways that might surprise both major parties, political pollsters and experts say.

Some Jewish and Muslim voters appear to be abandoning their past party affiliations and fewer evangelical Christians may go to the polls, adding to the volatility of the race.

The Bush administration's strategy to lure Jewish voters away from the Democratic Party seems to be working, said pollsters and Jewish leaders, who point to President Bush's support for Israel as one of the reasons for the shift....

...Some members of the Christian right, solid supporters of the president, may stay home on Election Day, confident that their man will win, said leaders of the Christian Coalition of America and experts who study voting patterns.

Also, a minority of Christian right voters may stay home for another reason: They are not convinced that Bush's religious rhetoric has translated into the social policies they were counting on, such as clear stands against homosexual marriage and all forms of abortion, analysts said....