Religion took a back seat during the first Democratic presidential debate last night, in stark contrast to its Republican counterparts.

The only mention of religion came at the very end, from former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley who is currently ranked fifth out of six candidates, according to the latest polling statistics.

O'Malley praised the way that his fellow nominees conducted themselves during the debate, and didn't make outlandish remarks about religion or belief.

"What you heard tonight...was a very, very different debate than from the sort of debate you heard from the two presidential Republican debates," he said during his closing remarks.

"On this stage, you didn't hear anyone denigrate women, you didn't hear anyone make racist comments about new American immigrants, you didn't hear anyone speak ill of another American because of their religious belief. What you heard instead on this stage tonight was an honest search for answers that will move our country forward...I truly believe we are standing on the threshold on a new era of American progress.

"Talk to our young people under 30. You'll never find among them people that want to bash immigrants or people that want to deny rights to gay couples. That tells me we are moving to a more connected, generous and compassionate place and we need to speak to the goodness within our country."

O'Malley has a point. Religion has been high on the agenda for Republican candidates, with each of them vocal about their own faith, and several suggesting that religious freedom is under attack in the US.

Donald Trump, currently the frontrunner, has referred to the Bible as his favourite book a number of times, though has so far proved unable to actually quote it, and has recently pronounced himself an evangelical Christian. Ben Carson, meanwhile, has faced strong criticism for his insistence that he would not advocate for a Muslim president.

During the first major televised debate between the Republican candidates in August, they were asked by a Fox viewer whether they had "received a word from God on what they should do and take care of first". Five of the leading candidates responded, almost falling over themselves to prove their merits as a Christian. "It's only by the blood of Jesus Christ that I've been redeemed from my sins," Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin said. "What God calls us to do is follow his will. And ultimately that's what I'm going to try to do."

Senator Tex Cruz added: "I am blessed to receive a word from God every day in receiving the scriptures and reading the scriptures. And God speaks through the Bible."

Faith has so far proved an integral element of the Republican presidential race, unsurprising because a large swathe of the party's supporters are evangelical Christians, and it counts the Bible Belt among its strongholds. The Democratic Party, meanwhile, is more popular among more liberal Christians and secular voters, though many of its candidates for the 2016 election do profess a faith.

It makes sense, therefore, that last night's debate veered away from questions of religion, focusing instead on issues such as climate change, health care reforms and gun control.

The majority of post-debate analyses concluded that Hillary Clinton came out on top. "I certainly am not campaigning to become president because my last name is Clinton," she insisted.

"I'm campaigning because I think I have the right combination of what the country needs, at this point, and I think I can take the fight to Republicans, because we cannot afford to have a Republican succeed Barack Obama as president."