WASHINGTON (Reuters):

Democratic politicians have found religion and that may help explain why they are suddenly more popular among church-going Americans.

As they push to win control of the United States Congress in Tuesday's elections from Republicans, who have long enjoyed support among conservative religious voters, more and more Democrats have shed a reluctance to talk about their faith.

"What we're doing is paying real dividends in the faith community," said Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, who heads the House of Representatives Democratic Faith Working Group, an outreach effort by lawmakers to ministers from the left and right.

"We're framing issues in religious terms and getting our members to be comfortable with it," said Clyburn, the son of a fundamentalist minister.

His and other similar groups were formed after the 2004 elections when the religious right was a major force behind President George W. Bush re-election and the Republicans keeping control of Congress.

Incorporating religion

Bush was perceived as a man of faith after he called Jesus Christ his favourite philosopher during the 2000 White House campaign. Republicans have been seen by some as representing 'family values', mainly because of their opposition to abortion and gay marriage and support for school prayer.

Until recently, Democrats have been reluctant to mention religion, but that has begun to change with some now even quoting scripture.

In Georgetown, Ohio, recently, Democratic congressional challenger Victoria Wulsin slid easily into biblical talk at a National Catholic Rural Life Conference.

"Paul's letter to Timothy sets the stage for doing what's right," said Wulsin, the granddaughter of preachers.

A popular phrase for Democrats this year is "the common good," essentially a shared sacrifice to help all.