Political parties talk faith during national conventions

Our take: Who has been giving and getting more religion at their respective political conventions, Republicans or Democrats? David Gibson for the Religion News Service takes a look at the speeches, platforms and prayers at the respective conventions to find out how each party has embraced faith.

Who says only Republicans can use faith as a political tool? Opening night of the Democratic convention, and former Ohio (cue battleground state line) governor Ted Strickland cited the Gospels for an Old Testament jeremiad against Mitt Romneys offshore wealth:

In Matthew, chapter 6, verse 21, the scriptures teach us that where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. My friends, any man who aspires to be our president should keep both his treasure and his heart in the United States of America.

Ouch. But Republicans were not about to yield the mantle of sanctimony and noted that the Democratic platform does not mention God even once, while theirs cites the Almighty 10 times.

Democrats tell CNN that the word "faith" appears 11 times in the platform, "religion" or "religious" 9 times, "church" 2 times, and "clergy" 1 time. So there.

Read more about religious conversations at the conventions on Religion News Service.