Republican Presidential Contenders Downplay Mormonism as Election Issue

Strategic Insights -

Republican presidential contenders Rep. Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum on Sunday downplayed rival Mitt Romney's Mormon religion as an election issue, despite weekend comments to the contrary by a conservative Baptist pastor who supports Rick Perry. The candidates, however, did not all take a unified stance, with businessman Herman Cain being more vague about his views on Romney's faith.

The issue of Mormonism has resurfaced as a potential concern for some Republican voters, particularly evangelicals and other Christians who consider the Mormon church not to be a Christian body. The controversy began when Rev. Robert Jeffress, a Dallas pastor, called the Mormon church a cult and said Romney is not a Christian during a speech at the Values Voters Summit, a gathering of social conservatives.

Key Takeaways:

  • All Republican presidential contenders except Herman Cain have repudiated the idea that Mitt Romney's Mormonism is a campaign issue.
  • Herman Cain was more vague, saying he didn't want to get into an analysis of Mormonism versus Christianity.
  • Michele Bachmann stated that the country has religious tolerance and that people have different views on their faith.
  • Newt Gingrich called Rev. Robert Jeffress' comments unwise and very inappropriate.
  • Rick Santorum said he doesn't think Mormonism is a cult and that every Mormon he knows is a good and decent person.
  • Mitt Romney indirectly addressed the issue of his religion, warning against "poisonous language directed at other religions."
  • Romney's membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been an issue since his unsuccessful 2008 campaign for the Republican nomination.
  • Herman Cain had previously stated that Romney's Mormonism would hurt him politically in the South.

Statistics:

  • 30,000 people attended a call to prayer at Houston's Reliant Stadium organized by Rick Perry in the summer.
  • Romney wasn't present at the call to prayer event.
  • 25% to 30% of Republican primary voters are likely to view Romney's Mormonism as a concern.
  • 70% of white evangelicals who are likely to vote in the 2012 Republican primaries are uncomfortable with Mormonism.
  • Romney has been perceived as not doing a good job of communicating his religion in his previous campaign.

Sources:

  • The Washington Times
  • CNN's State of the Union
  • Fox News Sunday
  • The Des Moines Register
  • Associated Press (mentioned in the photograph caption)