In a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted Sept. 23-30, 75 percent of Republican voters said they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who is Muslim. When narrowed to just likely Republican primary voters, the total jumped to 84 percent.
Carson made his original comments on Sept. 20, and although he sparked a wave of condemnation from various quarters, he has been holding his own in the polls, frequently coming in second behind Republican front-runner Donald Trump.
Looking at all Americans, the Reuters/Ipsos poll, which surveyed 2,220 people, found that just about half, 52 percent, would be less likely to vote for a Muslim candidate. Of those polled, 39 percent said it would make no difference and 10 percent said they would be more likely.
Democrats were less likely to consider religion a factor in assessing candidates. A plurality of Democrats, 48.5 percent, said it would not matter if a candidate was Muslim. And 36.5 percent said it would make them less likely to vote for a candidate.
