The New Yorker magazine's cover depicting Barack Obama as a Muslim was said by the magazine's editors to be an attempt to satirize some of the whispering campaigns by Obama opponents meant to raise questions about him.

The Pew Research Center says, based on polling June 18-29, says that despite all the ink and air time about Obama's religion, the number of people who incorrectly think he is in fact Muslim has stayed fairly consistent, with 12 percent believing that now compared to 10 percent in March. About a quarter of voters say they don't know his religion.

The percentage of those who believe he is Muslim is about the same for Republicans, Democrats and independents. The question doesn't make much difference to Republicans who overwhelming support McCain whether they think Obama is a Muslim or not. But among Democrats, voters are 28 points less likely to say they support Obama if they believe he is Muslim rather than Christian.