It's all about where you live. In my city, a well-known homeless atheist transvestite ran for mayor and did surprisingly well. 50 miles from here, it is still exactly as you describe, Pico.
I'm not sure that numbers are really growing. I think it's more that the percentage who used to demur as being agnostic are becoming more willing to draw the hard line. As recently as 2008,
53% of Americans would not vote for an atheist.