Poll: Growing number incorrectly call Obama Muslim

WASHINGTON - Americans increasingly are convinced — incorrectly — that President Barack Obama is a Muslim, and a growing number are thoroughly confused about his religion.

A poll finds that nearly one in five people, or 18 percent, think Obama is Muslim, up from the 11 percent who said so in March 2009. The proportion who correctly say he is a Christian is just 34 percent.

The largest share of people, 43 percent, said they don't know his religion. That's an increase from 34 percent in early 2009.

The survey was conducted by the Pew Research Center and its affiliated Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Interviews took place before the controversy erupted over whether Muslims should be permitted to construct a mosque near the World Trade Center site.