How do you see Mitt Romney's Mormonism playing in this campaign?

[bluestateguy]

Let's start with the GOP primaries, which he has to make it through first: As I see it, he'll be facing a primary electorate that is chock full of Christian (namely Protestant) conservatives. In the Iowa caucus and the South Carolina primary, these voters will be out in force. These folks believe with all of their heart that the president of the United States should be a Christian, and if they say you are not a Christian, then they will consider you an enemy. Christian fundamentalists do not consider Mormonism to be Christianity. Having said that, if evangelicals votes are scattered behind a bunch of candidates in the primaries (Palin, Huckabee, Pawlenty, etc.), then Romney could squeak through.

Conservative Catholics, BTW, don't seem to have the same antipathy toward Mormons as is to be found among Protestant evangelicals that largely make up the Christian Right.

But let's say Romney makes it to the November election as the party nominee. How does his Mormonism play then? Will Protestant evangelicals support him? Or will they decide to let Obama win and turn out in lighter numbers than 2004 and 2008 (it is a myth BTW that evangelicals stayed home in 2008). And will the Obama campaign try to make a fuss about Romney's Mormonism?

[Deep13]

1. Badly for him.

Most Christians regard the Mormons as a cult in the derogatory sense of the word.

[Yavin4]

2. Because of his Multiple Wives

The Romney family can cover a lot of states simultaneously. That will give him an advantage.

[FSogol]

3. His Magical Underwear makes him the front runner.

Huckabee will run only to knock Romney out of the race (and to fund raise, of course).

[rfranklin]

6. Unless he gets a wedgie...

with his knickers in a twist it could be a handicap.

[reformist2]

4. That and his Romneycare won't play well. And yet, he's the insider's favorite.

And when you're dealing with the Repuglicans, always bet on the insider!

[somone]

5. Fundies will never vote for him

[tridim]

7. I predict his religion will be ignored.

And hypocritical votes will be cast by fundies all over the land.

All of this assumes that Huckster will crash and burn early, which I believe he will. He is not a smart man.

[madrchsod]

8. the right wing christians won`t vote for him

[elocs]

9. I can tell you flat out from experience that religiously conservative Christians won't vote for him.

That doesn't mean they would vote for Obama, but thousands of them will not vote for a Mormon, which they consider to be a cult and a perversion of Christianity, and the Republicans need every one of those votes they can get.

[emulatorloo]

10. Huckabee is the one to watch. Personable and media will be happy to hide his theocratic views

[Johonny]

11. his opponents will use it

Not out in the open. Through random calls and mailers. On tv it won't be used, and will be poo poo'd as important. They didn't attack mccain's child in the open. They did it the way the nastiest republican politics works, mailers, callers to radio... but the word will be out there

[LeftinOH]

12. Pawlenty is going to surge past Romney and Huck. n/t

[GentryDixon]

13. Glenn Beck is setting him up for the

the "White Horse Prophecy". These Mormons truly believe in this nonsense. The premise is when the Constitution is in tatters, the savior (Mormon) will ride in on a white horse to save mankind. What better savior to the faithful than Mittens and perhaps Jon Huntsman as his sidekick?

Personal opinion, Jon Huntsman is too liberal for most Mormons, but the "Mormon" tag holds a great deal of weight. Sheep just follow the flock.

:crazy: :crazy:

[mb7588a]

14. Doesn't matter with all that Mass. health care baggage hanging on his neck. nt.

[JDPriestly]

15. We will get two choices.

Obama is pretty much destroying his chances by offending his base beyond belief.

So, probably any rag doll that the Republicans put up will win

UNLESS we replace Obama and get a candidate who will really dare to bring change.

Russ Feingold is worth looking at. So is Bernie Sanders. Any other suggestions?

We need someone with common sense who can articulate the American values that unite all working people, all struggling Americans.