Nationwide , Obama won 54 % of the Catholic vote in 2008 and 26 % of the evangelical vote , according to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life . A battleground state , Iowa with its six electoral votes may be key in the presidential election . One in three Iowans call themselves Catholics or evangelicals . The Catholic Church has been a major force for social change and economic development in this part of America since it was founded by Irish immigrants to the United States in 1845. President Barack Obama , who won Iowa in 2008 , may have a tough time doing it again .
A battleground state , Iowa with its six electoral votes may be key in the presidential election . One in three Iowans call themselves Catholics or evangelicals . The Catholic Church has been a major force for social change and economic development in this part of America since it was founded by Irish immigrants to the United States in 1845. President Barack Obama , who won Iowa in 2008 , may have a tough time doing it again .