The broadcast media has gone dark on the story, probably because they didn't want to be accused of bringing up "the Mormon issue" on the eve of the Florida primary.

The broadcast media has gone dark because nobody cares about leadership succession in a fringe cult--except perhaps when Janet Reno and the ATF are involved in forcing the succession.

I honestly mean no disrespect by this but I have to ask-
Is he related to the John Hinckley that took a shot at Reagan?

No tlaloc he isn't. There isn't even a distant cousin relation.

How do I know? I've researched that very question myself

The LDS church's leadership succession is based on seniority within its second-highest leadership body, the Quorum of the Twelve. The church eliminates internal politics rather successfully with their model, doctrinally attributing the divine call to the imponderables of when people die. It was generally thought among Mormons, that Monson would become church president by the simple virtue of his youth when he was ordained an apostle, yet his own ill-health (he is a diabetic) and The great age attained by his predecessors made it touch and go.

In spite of this, Monson's presence within the First Presidency for a couple of decades at this point, has made him a very dynamic and influential force in the church. As with Hinckley, who effectively ran the church for years because of Ezra Benson's ill-health, Monson steps into the drivers seat with the full confidence of the church's membership and the rest of the hierarchy, while maintaining a smooth trajectory of policy which he in fact was instrumental in deploying.

My guess is that this will be a relative non-factor in the election contest.

As it should be a non-factor. As Mitt himself declared he is a man of faith, his faith doesn't run him (paraphrasing of course).

On a side note, President Hinckley was a good man. Despite what you believe of the Mormon faith, here was someone who was very approachable, and I never heard him utter a curse word. He had one woman in his life for 60+ years, and when she dies a few short years ago, he carried on with his work despite a wide gap missing from his life.

Speaking of Romney however, did you read Ed Morrissey's endorsement of him? The reactions from his readership was interesting as well.

It would be highly unusual, though, to reach that status at the age of 35, as Monson did, or to be elected to the papacy in one’s 80s.

Well, the current pope was 78 when elected, as was Clement XII. Clement X was elected at 79. I think Leo XIII was the oldest pope--he died when he was 93. The geezer held the post for 25 years.