Religious Right Backing Romney?
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James Joyner | Thursday, October 11, 2007 |
Steve Benen has rounded up some stories and come to the conclusion that the religious right is slowly coalescing around Mitt Romney because the more religious candidates are less plausible and the other plausible candidates are less religious. This inevitably raises The Mormon Question but at least one influential Evangelical has concluded that, “as a Southern Baptist evangelical and political conservatives, I am convinced I have more in common with most Mormons than I do with a liberal Southern Baptist, Methodist, Roman Catholic or a liberal from any other denomination or faith group.”
As a man without a dog in that fight, I’d agree. Romney is clearly more devout than Rudy Giuliani or John “The Baptist” McCain. Still, I wonder how much it matters who James Dobson and company decide to endorse?
- A recent Gallup poll shows Americans more likely to vote for a black man than a Mormon, with Evangelical Republicans likely comprising the entirety of the definite No’s.
- A recent ABC/WaPo poll has 53% saying the definitely won’t vote for Romney, the highest of any candidate.
- Mormons believe some really odd things from the perspective of mainstream religious folk.
- Romney has raised quite a bit of money. Mostly, from his favorite supporter: Mitt Romney.
There’s no sign of a pro-Romney groundswell and plenty of signs that the Republican nominating electorate views him with deep suspicion. The fact that he’s more likely to cozy up to the leadership of the Christian conservative movement — which is a movement that eschews leadership and organization — is unlikely to offset any of that.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
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Plus, Romney has the whole flip-floppery on things like abortion and gay marriage he to overcome, not to mention the fact that he comes across as rather plastic.
