Where they stand...
JOHN McCAIN
Faith:Attends a Southern Baptist church in Phoenix but is not baptised and rarely talks about his faith in public. Raised Episcopalian.
On the issues:Consistent pro-life voting record on abortion; opposed to gay marriage but voted against a constitutional amendment banning it; supports stem cell research; would appoint conservative Supreme Court judges.
Pastor problems:Has denounced evangelical leaders as "agents of intolerance". Frosty relations with the religious right. Renounced endorsements from pastors John Hagee and Rod Parsley because of their inflammatory remarks about Catholics, Muslims and Jews.
BARACK OBAMA
Faith:Seeking a new church after breaking from the Protestant United Church of Christ, where he discovered Christianity in his 20s. Grew up agnostic and spent part of his childhood in Islamic Indonesia - fuelling widespread but unfounded rumours that he is a Muslim.
On the issues:Pro-choice on abortion; opposed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage but prefers civil unions to same-sex marriage; supports stem cell research.
Pastor problems:Severed ties with Jeremiah Wright, his spiritual mentor, after videos emerged showing the pastor making racially divisive remarks and declaring "God damn America".