How will the fact that Mitt Romney is a member of the Mormon (LDS) Church effect his election chances in 2008?

Religion always plays some role in an election at this level. I think it will be interesting to see how the whole thing plays out with Mitt Romney being a Mormon. One school of thought is that it will work against him, since many voters will recall some of the more negative aspects of Mormon history. This will make them pass on Romney. On the other hand, both Romney and his Church are pretty conservative. While Mormonism finds itself at odds with a lot of typical evangelical Christian doctrine, there are still common teachings. Maybe enough of that huge voting block of self-described evangelical Christians would support Mitt Romney for this reason. But then, maybe not. What do you think? How will the fact that Mitt Romney is a Mormon effect his election hopes?

Public Comments

1. Romney has no chance of winning because most real conservatives see him as someone who will change his opinion to get votes. Why do we see it that way? Because he did exactly that on issues concerning abortion and gay marriage. A good portion of the christian right see mormons as a cult. So it would have a negative effect on his campaign. Not as big as his flip-flopping does though.
2. I truly don't think that his religion will effect him one way or the other, but he's not the front runner and I'll be shocked if he ends up being being our Pres. candidate. Right now, I think it'll be between Rudy and Thompson, if Thompson ever gets in.
3. Officially nothing. Unofficially it will make a difference. The problem is that he is not an inspiring person that gets people to run out and vote for her.
4. I think because Mitt Romney does not come across as a bible thumping, you'll burn in hell radical zealot, his religion will play a very small part in the peoples choice.
5. maybe it will..and maybe it will serve to educate some of these so-called intelligents..what the Morman faith is..
6. Unfortunately I don't think his religion is going to be as big a hinderance as his being a republican. It looks like a double whammy for Mitty Rom. Bush has sealed his fate.
7. It shouldn't play any role.....I'm not looking for a pope. I'm looking for someone with a brain, listens to the people that elect them and can put words together to form complete sentences.
8. Think of the voters who would cast their ballots en masse! Mitt Romeny: Mormom, Yankees Fan and a Gay Republican with values.
9. I do not want him in office because if he is a strong Mormon the Church will influence him at every turn.
10. Romney himself will be a far greater factor than will be the Church of Later Day Saints. LDS members are highly respected in many communities. Those who wouldn't vote for him no doubt have other reasons. For others, his church membership may be reason enough to vote for him.
11. I think it will affect his chances greatly. I don't see him being the Republican nominee partly for this reason. Yes, there are some common teachings between LDS and the evangelicals. But most evangelicals still consider Mormonism to be a cult and a lot of them won't be able to get past that. Add in the people who won't vote for him based on his amazingly agile flip-flopping on social issues and he is a loser before he starts. The evangelicals are a real problem for the Republicans this election. You've got Mitt as a Mormon, Rudy who is pro-choice, and McCain, who they'll never trust again after the things he said about them in 2000. Who else is there that is a front runner that can fit their mold? Possibly Fred Thompson, but he needs to get off his lazy duff and get in this race if he means business.
12. Religion does play a roll I'm sorry to say but I'm not voting for him for reasons based on my political views. The rapture rights will oppose him on religious prejudices regardless of his talents as a leader and politician. I admit I've a hard time understanding the reasoning behind conservative ideology.
13. If people REALLY educate themselves on the mormon "religion" then I would think and hope that it would greatly effect his chances for election. Yes, they're conservative but it's to the WAY extreme end of the scope. I've grown up in Idaho, where mormons are a majority and the effect their beliefs have when one is elected to office has been astounding and unconstitutional.The day the United States elects a mormon President is the day I become a Canadian!
14. He has no chance of winning. I have noticed lately that Karl (Wag the dog) Rove - Minister of Political planning for Bushco, has completely spun out of control..... I believe in future years documentaries will show Rove is as we speak, spinning out of control, throwing tyraids and screaming at the walls.. It may be he's lost it ... That's my opinion anyway and this whole question of running two tickets at the same time (regular Rep ticket and this so called "kinder, gentler" independant ticket) will backfire in a HUGE way in '08... As a dem I say keep up the good work Karl.
15. Simple: He will not get elected.
16. I would like to think that the entire American public would be blind to irrelevant things such as religion, race, ethnicity, etc... when voting for a president. But that would just be wishful thinking on my part. Unfortunately, we are still stuck in that time period when a man's/woman's religion, race, ethnicity, etc... play a role in how they are judged by others, rather than by their actions. With that being said, his religious beliefs will effect his chances in '08 because a large portion of the American public (as the polls show) holds bigoted beliefs, such as the belief that a person of a certian race or religious group can't be a good president for the majority.
17. Had Romney been morally consistent throughout his career his Mormon background wouldn't be a problem, maybe even a plus because of their traditional conservatism. However, his vacillation on all issues of a moral character only make people mistrust him and suspect that maybe even a Mormom politician is still just a politician.
18. I think that he needs to make a statement regarding his church affiliation. He dodges and dances here and there ( which may be the bigger problem, because he has done this a lot in regards to policy in his career ) but has not had his " Kennedy Moment ", like JFK had to do in regards to him being a Catholic. The Mormon Church is known for it's strict organization and for members responding to the Church Heiarchy. How will Romney respond to the Church wanting him to go a particular direction in policy or to change direction ?? The Church is pro immigration and for having sanctuary locations throughout the United States. Romney at present is not taking that stand. Will he change after becoming President to do what the Church desires ?? There are some people who will not vote for him because of his religion. Some people will vote for him because of it. I think that most people are open to being convinced that Romney is the man to vote for. I think this is an additional reason he needs to have his " Kennedy Moment ". I think that he looks pretty good as a candidate. I think that he probably has more character than any of the other candidates.
19. Since his "base" is primarily Christian conservatives, I don't believe he has a snowball's chance. The left and center won't be voting for any conservative this time around, and the right wants someone who looks, talks, and acts exactly like themselves. That's why they supported Bush. You mentioned Mormon history, but I think Mormon theology is the bigger hangup. Remember, these religious conservatives like nothing better than damning everyone who might be a little different. Well, the LDS is a lot different - I spent enough time in Utah to know whereof I speak..
20. Don't know. What's wrong with being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints? You make it sound like we are from outer space and we are weird non-Christians!
21. I think he is just a little too slick. Don't know if the Mormon thing will hurt or not.