(CNN) — Issues of faith again take center stage Wednesday in the latest episode of CNN=Politics Daily.

White House Correspondent Ed Henry reports on Pope Benedict XVI's visit to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider reports on Sen. Barack Obama's meeting Wednesday with Jewish leaders. Schneider also takes a closer look at whether Obama has a problem with Jewish voters.

Suzanne Malveaux is on the campaign trail and files a report about Sen. Hillary Clinton's prospects in Pennsylvania's upcoming primary on April 22.

Finally, Chief National Correspondent John King caught up with Sen. John McCain as the presumptive Republican nominee continues to discuss his new economic proposals with voters. King also asked McCain about a Clinton supporter's statement that McCain is told old to be president.

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(CNN) — With a week to go until Pennsylvania's Democratic primary, all eyes are on Sens. Hillary Clinton and Obama as they continue to battle for their party's nomination.

But, the presidential race had some competition Tuesday when Pope Benedict XVI arrived for his first official visit to the United States, garnering a greeting by President Bush and the first lady when his plane touched down outside of Washington, D.C.

In the latest episdoe of CNN=Politics Daily, Wolf Blitzer provides a quick look at past papal visits. White House Correspondent Ed Henry also reports on the potential impact of the Catholic vote in the 2008 presidential election.

Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley reports on how Sen. Clinton is trying to capitalize on the recent 'bitter' gaffe by Sen. Obama and on Obama's counterattack.

Sen. John McCain rolled out his major economic proposals in a speech Tuesday. Dana Bash reports on what the presumptive GOP nominee is doing to lay the groundwork for his face-off with Clinton or Obama during the general election.

Finally, Jessica Yellin takes a look at a potentially critical demographic in the 2008 presidential race — single women.

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(CNN) — With the recent controversy created by Sen. Barack Obama's comments about residents of America's small towns, issues of faith now loom large over the 2008 White House race.

In the latest episode of CNN=Politics Daily, Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley reports on how Obama is fighting back in the middle of onslaughts from both Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee.

Dana Bash reports on McCain's complex relationship with issues of faith and how McCain is trying to turn the Obama controversy to his advantage.

Jessica Yellin reports on the Democratic Party's efforts to win the votes of religious voters in the 2008 election cycle.

The 'bitter' controversy has raised the possibility that Obama's White House bid may be challenged by issues of socioeconomic class rather than issues of race as many pundits expected.  Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider takes a look at how Obama has become ensnared in an issue that has doomed the candidacies of other so-called "New Democrats" like George McGovern.

Finally, check out two memorable moments from Monday's campaign events — watch Sen. Obama deal with an 'Obama'-'Osama' slip-up during an appearance before the Associated Press and watch Sen. McCain make fun of his age.

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–CNN Associate Producer Martina Stewart

Sen. Clinton wasted no time Sunday night before again criticizing Sen. Obama for his recent remarks about small town America.

GRANTHAM, Pennsylvania (CNN) — Minutes after Barack Obama tore into Hillary Clinton for criticizing his comments about some small-town Americans, the New York senator said again Sunday that those remarks about some could be seen as “elitist” and “patronizing.”

"But from my perspective the characterization of people in a way that really seemed to be elitist and out of touch is really something that we have to overcome," Clinton said at the Compassion Forum, airing on CNN.

"The Democratic Party, to be very blunt about it, has been viewed as a party that didn't understand and respect the values and the way of life of many of our fellow Americans," she said, adding that the fact that the comments came at a “closed door fundraiser in San Francisco” helped reinforce that impression.

She said that Obama was a good man, but compared him to unsuccessful Democratic candidates Al Gore and John Kerry.

"We had two very good men, and men of faith, run for president in 2000 and 2004. But large segments of the electorate concluded that they did not really understand, or relate to, or frankly respect their ways of life," said Clinton.

–CNN Associate Political Editor Rebecca Sinderbrand

Will Sen. Obama beat out Sen. Clinton with the faithful?

(CNN) — Which Democrat is winning the battle for religious voters? God only knows.

So far this year, Hillary Clinton has maintained an edge among Roman Catholics, many of them the Hispanic and working-class white voters who have been among the most loyal members of her base.

Thanks in large part to that support, many surveys had also given her a slight edge over Barack Obama among white Democratic voters who attended church of any kind regularly.

But in exit polls, the category of regular church-goers — those who attend services at least once a month or more — were more likely to choose Obama. That category in many states was dominated by African-Americans, who have overwhelmingly backed the Illinois senator's candidacy.

Full story

GRANTHAM, Pennsylvania (CNN) – Sen. Hillary Clinton won the coin toss conducted by the organizers of Sunday night’s Compassion Forum. The New York senator elected to go first at the forum and will be followed by Sen. Barack Obama.

Clinton and Obama will field questions in back-to-back interviews conducted by CNN’s Campbell Brown, Newsweek's Jon Meacham and prominent members from the faith community who will be in the audience. The Democratic presidential rivals are expected to address topics that include religious faith, poverty, human rights, and the worldwide AIDS crisis.

Programming note: CNN will broadcast the Compassion Forum exclusively and live beginning at 8 p.m. E.T. on Sunday night.

Watch former Sen. Kerrey's interview in the Situation Room Monday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Former senator Bob Kerrey, D-Nebraska, told CNN Monday that Sen. Barack Obama’s Muslim ancestry would add value in conducting American foreign policy if Obama wins the White House.

Obama is Christian but his father was Muslim as is his paternal grandmother and Obama lived in Indonesia, a Muslim country, early in his childhood.

While Kerrey acknowledged “there is a smear campaign going on,” in an effort to use Obama’s background against him, Kerrey told CNN’s John King “I feel it’s actually a substantial strength.” “That connection to Indonesia and a billion Muslims on this Earth, I think is a real strength,” explained Kerrey.

The former senator, who has endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton, also said that “as an African-American,” Obama “can speak in an authentic way to underperforming black youth who I think will follow his example.”

Kerrey spoke with John King Monday on The Situation Room.

Watch Kerrey's entire interview.

–CNN Associate Producer Martina Stewart

Glenn Beck was in The Situation Room Friday.

(CNN) – In this interview with Wolf Blitzer, CNN Headline News host Glenn Beck did not pull any punches in discussing his views of surging Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.

“I think this guy is going to implode and, if he doesn’t implode, he gets the Republican nomination, I think the Republicans might as well just write it off,” Beck said on CNN’s The Situation Room Friday.

Asked about the naming of Ed Rollins, who is credited with President Reagan’s landslide re-election, as Huckabee’s new national campaign chairman, Beck said, “I am so sick and tired of hearing people talk about how much they’re like Ronald Reagan.” “I wish people would be themselves, not Ronald Reagan,” he added.

Beck also criticized Huckabee’s recent controversial comments about Mormonism, the religious faith Beck shares with Huckabee rival Mitt Romney.

Watch Beck’s entire interview with Wolf Blitzer.

Related video: Rollins on Huckabee

–CNN Associate Producer Martina Stewart

Watch Bill Schneider's report on the two historic speeches on religion.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's speech Thursday on religion was not the first time a White House hopeful has addressed his faith in an effort to win over skeptical voters. In 1960, Sen. John F. Kennedy also gave a speech about religious faith.

In this report, Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider takes a look at the two speeches and at Romney's and JFK's differing goals in addressing concerns about their religious beliefs.

Related: Romney addresses role of religion

Watch Dana Bash's report about Romney speech on faith.

(CNN) — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney spoke about faith and religious freedom in College Station, Texas Thursday. CNN's Dana Bash was there and filed this report about Romney's speech.

Related: Romney addresses religion

Related: Aide: Romney differs from JFK

Related video: Beck: Romney speech a 'home run'

"Huck and Chuck" are together again in a new web video.

On the same day that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney gave a major speech on faith, rival Mike Huckabee went online to tackle the same issue – and he used Chuck Norris to do so. Watch Abbi Tatton’s report.

– CNN Associate Producer Eric Weisbrod

Watch part of Mike Huckabee's sermon at Gateway Baptist Church in Irmo, South Carolina.

FOUNTAIN INN, South Carolina (CNN) — Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee stepped into a familiar role on Sunday morning: that of Baptist minister.

Huckabee, who was a minister before he served two and a half terms as governor as Arkansas, took to the stage for about half an hour at two Baptist churches in South Carolina and told the congregations: "I am here today to talk about Jesus and not to talk about me."

"I always try to remind people that there is a place for politics, but when I come to church, it's to worship," he said at Gateway Baptist Church in Irmo, where he was mistakenly introduced as "Governor Hucklebee."

In Irmo and at First Baptist Church in Fountain Inn, Huckabee weaved jokes and anecdotes from his life in Arkansas into his sermons while also demonstrating a deep familiarity with the New Testament, quoting passages from memory.

"God is still looking for good soldiers, good soldiers for Christ," he told the congregation in Irmo. "Every single person here is a soldier that God needs in his army. He is just waiting on us to say here am I, send me."

Huckabee said he has been confronted by people unsure about his transition from faith to politics.

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Romney says he has no idea who was behind phone calls in New Hampshire

DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) — "You've got to be kidding" was GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's incredulous response.

The question: Is he confident that no one associated with his campaign was involved in so-called push-polling?

The practice is a political attack disguised as legitimate polling. Callers portray themselves as nonpartisan members of a polling organization, then provide negative or misleading information about a candidate in an effort to discourage voting for that person.

Romney appeared taken aback because the phone calls — reported in early presidential contest states of Iowa and New Hampshire — cast aspersions on him and his Mormon faith.

The calls also raised questions about deferments he received during the Vietnam War because he was doing missionary work in France.

Full story

Watch the Osmond siblings discuss Mitt Romney.

(CNN) – In this clip from Larry King Live, Donnie and Marie Osmond and some of their siblings discuss the presidential campaign of fellow Mormon Mitt Romney.

Speaking about John F. Kennedy’s historic address about being Catholic and running for president, Marie Osmond told King, “I hope we’ve grown up since then.” “I hope people look at the person and what they’ve done,” the Osmond sister added.

Romney’s advisers have told the Republican presidential candidate not to give a Kennedy-esque speech regarding being a Mormon, according to the Associated Press.

– CNN Associate Producer Martina Stewart

Watch John King's report on what Mitt Romney is doing and saying to win over evangelical voters in South Carolina.

(CNN) — In a CNN exclusive, Chief National Correspondent John King reports on a closed-door meeting that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney recently held with evangelical Christians in South Carolina.

Related: Romney's private pitch to evangelicals

Related: Romney winning over S.C. skeptics

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Watch Tony Perkins in the Situation Room Friday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, took time out from the Value Voters summit Friday to speak with Wolf Blitzer. Perkins discussed evangelical, pro-life voters and the 2008 Republican presidential field. Watch his interview.

Related video: Watch Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention in the Situation Room.

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Watch Bill Schneider's report on faith and politics.

(CNN) — Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, is going after churchgoing voters in an effort to lessen their propensity in the last 25 years to vote Republican — a trend dubbed the "God gap" by political pundits and political scientists. Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider reports.

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Watch Sen. Barack Obama discuss religion and values at a church in South Carolina.

(CNN) — Watch Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, as he addressed the congregation at the Redemption World Outreach Center in Greenville, South Carolina on Sunday.

Full story: Obama: GOP doesn't own faith issue

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Obama told an evangelical church in South Carolina: "I am confident we can create a Kingdom right here on Earth."

GREENVILLE, South Carolina (CNN) — After speaking to an evangelical church on Sunday in this traditionally conservative South Carolina city, Sen. Barack Obama said that Republicans no longer have a firm grip on religion in political discourse.

"I think its important particularly for those of us in the Democratic Party to not cede values and faith to any one party," Obama told reporters outside the Redemption World Outreach Center where he attended services.

"I think that what you're seeing is a breaking down of the sharp divisions that existed maybe during the nineties, when at least in politics the perception was that the Democrats were fearful of talking about faith, and on the other hand you had the Republicans who had a particular brand of faith that often times seemed intolerant or pushed people away," he said.

Full story

Related video: Obama: 'Faith plays every role'

Related video : Obama goes after the 'God gap'

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– CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby