How accurate is the Catholic vote?

[Buffalo Bill]

I've noticed that typically Catholics vote for the winner in the general elections but when we look at the exit polling by state, we get a much more conservative sampling.  For example, they lean left but state to state, Romney and even McCain won the Electoral College.  States like CT, NY, NJ, DE, and MD voted for Bush but states like NM and CA were very solid for Kerry.  In the last election, NY Catholics supported Romney.  Is it just simply that east coast Catholics more conservative than west coast Catholics based on demographics or is exit polling off in some of the states?

[All Along The Watchtower]

Define "Catholic."

EDIT: There's a pretty damn obvious reason for why Catholics in the Eastern US are much more Republican than Catholics in the West/Southwest...

[Buffalo Bill]

Define "Catholic."

EDIT: There's a pretty damn obvious reason for why Catholics in the Eastern US are much more Republican than Catholics in the West/Southwest...

Uh Catholic Christians?  You must agree with me that it's based on demographics?

[AGA]

Define "Catholic."

Whoever considers himself/herself one.