“Sure, I believe so. ... You should have separation of church and state, so religion should have nothing to do with it.”

— Randy Fitzgerald, landscaper, Lawrence

“No ... I'm a religious person, Hindu by denomination, and I don't believe the atheist point of view. I have nothing against them - they can do what they want as long as they don't impose their belief upon me.”

— Roopnarain Khemraj, data center manager, Arlington, Mass.

“I don't think he should consider it, but it wouldn't surprise me if he did.”

— Kirstie Fine, history major, Williamsburg

“I think that he should definitely consider it because I think that an atheist could bring some valid points into some issues that are going on today.”

— Laura Schmidt, art history major, Marysville