Why are Conservatives so adverse to electing the most qualified Republican Candidate, which is Mitt Romney?

I'll tell you why. A candidates Gender, Ethnicity, and Religion are the #1 issues for GOP voters.

Public Comments

1. because the southern Christian rednecks dont fancy his religion
2. None of them are qualified except Ron Paul, and most conservatives are Bush clones
3. There is no doubt in my mind that if Romney was a christian he would take this thing in a landslide.
4. no those arent the issues that worry most of the people... its the quality of the candidate and obviously many people feel he is not the most qualified for the position. I dont care that he is mormon i just care about the fact that he is a flip flopper on issues and he does it so much that you cant really tell where he stands on an issue.
5. I can't vote for a person who doesn't have a core value system or a moral code. He has changed his mind about fundamental positions. It's just weird.
6. Why do people like Clinton instead of Obama nothing makes sense and Ron Paul is the best republican candidate Mitt Romney is a Christan right psychopath
7. I agree, Romney is easily the most qualified to run the country. Unfortunately, people seem to think of Mormans as a cult or something. I don't get it. Look at C-Los's answer. He doesn't even realize that Mormans are Christians. That's what I am talking about.
8. I care that the man doesn't drink...wouldn't want a muslim in there either.
9. I think you're partly right. Religion has become very important, especially to Republicans. The Christian Right believes Mormonism is a cult. Romney made a speech about religion in which he said all the things he thought the Religious Right wanted to hear, but it resulted in his poll numbers going down, not up. My guess is that most fundamentalist Christians hadn't been paying close attention this early in the game, and didn't realize he was Mormon until he made it an issue himself. Then they switched their votes to Mike Huckabee. But there's another big thing. Romney was governor of the most liberal state in the US. In order for him to now run for president as a Republican, he has to flip-flop on a lot of major issues. And he has to pretend he really believed this way all along. So he comes off as insincere and opportunistic, the kind of politician who will say anything he thinks will get him elected. I really think that's part of the problem he's having.
10. Why bother answering a question you already konw the answer to. I will give you another reason: he is fake.
11. Because they let their own religious preferences cloud their minds. Voting for a Mormon would be to them like forsaking their own religion. Didn't Jesus say "love everyone"? I'm with you on this one!
12. because fundamentalist conservative Christians consider Mormonism to be a cult...and consider Romney to be a follower of a cult...and as such, do not believe he is a Christian. As a Southern Baptist, I was taught as a child that anyone that is not protestant is not Christian and will not go to heaven....kinda sad...but, many still believe this to be true.
13. I think he is a fairly qualified candidate, but the problem is that he has changed on many of his stances on the issues, since his term as governor in Massachusetts.
14. Funny, monkeyballs, he's got the most delegates of any other Republican candidate thus far. Hm. I disagree with your (own) answer. If anyone is making this a race about ethnicity, gender and religion, it is the left. Romney is the single most qualified person for the job.
15. "Who let the dogs out? whooo? whoooo?" Yeah, he's qualified alright.
16. I'm conservative and neither gender nor ethnicity nor religion are issues for me (let alone "#1"!). However, I've had two conservative friends - not exactly a statistically relevant sample, but nevertheless -- who stated Romney's religion (Mormon) as an inhibitor to their vote. They don't view this as bigotry because they claim to have researched Mormonism and the research turned up weird beliefs about the devil or that Jesus had visited Missouri. True bigotry is being "obstinately devoted to prejudices even when these views are challenged [and] proven to be false or not universally applicable or acceptable." Mitt Romney gave a speech on this and I think it is good: http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110010955
17. And your opinion of who is most qualified is better than the opinion that he is not, because?
18. Because Christians who follow their beliefs to the logical conclusion will realize that we need a Christian to run the country. It is not just that mormonism is a cult, it would be the same for any other religion. Look in the old testament, you will see that having leaders who are strong followers of God becomes a blessing, while leaders who aren't has often times lead to tribulation. The same thing goes for gender, the Bible says man is the head of the woman. (1 Cor 11:13) (paraphrased). If this is the case, then if Hillary gets elected, what we really have is either Bill being elected again (as he is the head of the household, he will end up in a large amount of control). Or we end up with a woman running our country who isn't God-honoring. It all boils down to this, if Christians believe that God is in sovereign control of the world, and that what He says in His Word is true, then we will see having a Christian leader as a blessing to this country.
19. Mitt Romney looked so lame trying to be hip. What a sap! Take a look at how qualified they all are.. Pre-war lies from Hillary: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080123/ap_on_go_pr_wh/misinformation_study The real Bill Clinton and what he really thinks of honoring MLK: http://donklephant.com/2008/01/21/bill-clinton-nods-off-during-mlk-tribute-speech/
20. Ill tell you what...I'm not voting for McCain who wants amnesty for illegals.
21. Because he is a Mormon and people are ignorant of that faith because of the way it started,some early Mormons were killed (like in the 1840's or so)because of the pologamy thing which Mainstream Mormons don't pratice anymore,Christians were the ones who killed them and visa vesa.Hardcore Republicans don't back Huckabee either because he was a poor guy and he was a Baptist, Minister go figure.They are waiting for Ronald Regan to Rise.. Both parties live in the past hey people this is 2007.You can please some of the people some of the time,not all the people all the time. Everyone Vote for the one YOU think will be out leader.
22. nothing to do with that he is a far second to Paul -on the issues and his record -for me its simple
23. I think there are two primary reasons: 1. He has changed positions on some issues considered to be pretty significant by Republicans such as abortion. 2. He is Mormon I think if he was a mainstream Christian he would have no problem getting the Republican base to support him, although he still does a good job at getting a lot of votes (he is leading in total votes and delegates right now). However, because he is a Mormon who many STILL don't believe are Christian (look at the forums and answers by people such as Mike K above) they won't vote for him. I think most of the people who are scared of the Mormon thing don't know Mormons and don't know they generally have high character and live by Christian values, more-so than a lot of "Christians" I've known. In general, I think it's the people who are close-minded and who aren't very exposed to the world who are most scared off by his religion. People in the more "progressive" parts of the country don't seem to find his religion to be as much as an issue as those in the "less progressive" parts such as the South.
24. Romney is not the most qualified or the most conservative and therefore should not recieve the nomination.
25. Actual Conservatives haven't. Mitt Romney has consistently won more conservative votes in the primaries and caucuses than John McCain, and has more endorsements from Republicans in Congress than he does, as well.