Could we please get back to opening this up so some more folks can talk about why they would or would not vote for an "atheist". Just one more bit, really, no matter how devout some believers are it seems to me none of us really know much about God and might look to Him live serious disbelievers anyway. Thats what I like about some atheists, as I read them, they are trying to just be honest with themselves somehow.
There are also some "believers" that are honest with themselves as well. It just depends on the person.
There are bad, or fake people that "believe in God".... but then again, do they really believe if their actions tell us otherwise?
Beliefs and core values are tied to thought, thought leads to words then actions. Those actions basically tell everyone around you who you are. You can say you believe something, but it has to come through in your actions for it to be true.
Because I believe in God, and I feel it is important to this nation, naturally I would want someone with similar ideas, and morals to lead this country. If that is not an option I would want the next best thing. I would rather have an athiest President with morals, and integrity that is trying to help this country than I would a fake religious person (or athiest for that matter) who is greedy and power hungry.
I think people tend to vote for people that have ideas, morals, etc... that are similar to their own because the odds are they will like more of that persons decisions over someone very different.
Even though I would personally lean towards someone that believed in God, that is just a general leaning because they would be somewhat similar to me. Would that person even believe in God the same way I do? I can't say how I would vote here because I would have to know which candidates were involved, know their policies and tendencies before I made the choice. I don't follow a party, but I try to vote by who I feel would best help our country, and often times I am voting for or against the people around a candidate as much as the candidate themselves.