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The church always plays a role in presidential elections, as candidates tout their faith and court religious groups. This year's race is no exception. In fact, events like Bush's recent request to the Vatican to rally religious leaders behind him, or the move by some Catholic bishops to deny pro-choice politicians, like John Kerry, communion have some wondering if the line separating church and state has been crossed. However, others argue that it's just political and religious leaders doing their job and suggest our culture has become too secular. We'll discuss it, and we'll ask why religion is taking on such importance in both the Bush and Kerry campaigns. Laura's guests are Dr. Ann Riggs, theologian and associate professor in the department of religious studies at Rivier College in Nashua and Linda Feldmann, staff writer at the Christian Science Monitor. We will also hear from Father Richard John Neuhaus, editor of First Things Magazine, the Journal of Religious and Public Life, and Reverend Mary Wellemeyer, pastor at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Manchester.

With the Presidential election less than five months away, the mudslinging has gotten vicious, especially on the internet? where ads are not regulated. We'll look at what the candidates are saying and what effect, if any, these ads have on public opinion. Mike's guests are Jen Donahue, Senior Advisor for Political Affairs at the Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College, and Brooks Jackson, Director of the Annenberg Political Fact Check at the Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.