Parsing the Polls: Answering the Mormon Question

The Washington Post ^ | 2/14/2007 | Chris Cillizza

[Utah Girl]

The fact that Mitt Romney is a Mormon is no secret. Scads of stories have been written about that very fact, and it's a regular topic of conversation among Washington's chattering class.

What effect Romney's religion will have on his chances at winning the 2008 Republican presidential nomination is much less clear. Some argue that evangelical voters, a core part of the GOP coalition, will never accept a Mormon candidate as one of their own. Others believe Romney's religion will become a non-issue as the campaign wears on.

Who's right? It's still too early to tell, but a look at recent survey data on the Mormon question suggests that Romney faces real skepticism about his religion among the Republican primary voters he needs to woo over the coming year. Thanks to Washington Post pollster extraordinaire Jon Cohen, we have all that information at our fingertips.

Let's parse the polls!

[Utah Girl]

All the polls in one location. This is a blog, and the comments range from accepting to downright nasty.

[Fairview]

I really don't understand why Romney's faith is a problem. It's not like he's one of those nuts who has six wives and 34 children.

[yldstrk]

No Mormons. Not until they get the more than one wife thing cleaned up.

[Vigilanteman]

He needs to get his support past the single digit level before we can even find out.

Romney seems perfectly capable. Great resume. Self-made multi-millionaire. Pulled the 2002 Winter Olympics out of the toilet. Pulled the Massachusetts economy out of the toilet.

But I don't understand why all the media long knives are aimed at him when he's never polled double digits in any national poll. Is there something more to him that they're really worried about? If so, it speaks in his favor.

[AnAmericanMother]

Actually, my cousin the (schismatic) Mormon has only THREE wives and only THIRTY-TWO children (at last count - I thought he had 29 but my mom brought me up to date, at least as up to date as she is, there may be more by now . . . )

He's a nice guy, but it might be a problem if he tried to run for President . . . can you imagine how many Air Force Ones you'd need?

[cardinal4]

Im giving Romney a hard look. I think my vote will come down to Hunter or Romney..

[Reaganesque]

What effect Romney's religion will have on his chances at winning the 2008 Republican presidential nomination is much less clear.

And yet it is the Washington Post and the rest of the Liberal media that are constantly bringing Mitt's religion up. Hmmmm.

[Parley Baer]

"It's not like he's one of those nuts who has six wives and 34 children." Whats wrong with that? Hehehhe.

[FastCoyote]

"And yet it is the Washington Post and the rest of the Liberal media that are constantly bringing Mitt's religion up. Hmmmm."

Well, some of us have brought up the problems. Mitt is a former Bishop, at the presidential level, he will be called to account for every Mormon idiosyncrasy.

[Reaganesque]

Then you will be pleased to know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints abolished the practice of polygamy on October 6, 1890.

To quote President Wilford Woodruff:

"Inasmuch as laws have been enacted by Congress forbidding plural marriages, which laws have been pronounced constitutional by the court of last resort, I hereby declare my intention to submit to those laws, and to use my influence with the members of the Church over which I preside to have them do likewise."

Wilford Woodruff, President of the Church, Official Declaration 1

[nctexan]

"No Mormons. Not until they get the more than one wife thing cleaned up."

I'm not for Romney, not a Mormon, and only have one wife... the only one I've ever had.

Do you think Mitt has more than one wife... or will try to change the laws... or will have any negative affect on marriage in the US?

If I believed that the answer to any of the above was yes, I'd say HELL NO. But I don't.

[Vigilanteman]

Hunter's my first choice. But I have my doubts he will still be in the race by the time the Pennsylvania Primary rolls around. Jim Gilmore is worth a look. I'd like to see him get some traction. And Romney is certainly better than McCain (too infatuated by media approval), Guilani (zipper control problems) or Gingrich (ditto and yesterday's news).

Zipper control problems do not affect Democrats, but they can easily bring down Republicans. Ask Gingrich, Bob Livingston (anyone remember him) or Mark Foley.

[Osage Orange]

What else have they abolished?

[msnimje]

No Mormons. Not until they get the more than one wife thing cleaned up.

The Mormon Church got rid of plural marriages about the same time the United States got rid of slavery.

[Aliska]

I could vote for Mitt. In spite of religious differences, Mormons share my basic values. He seems like an extraordinarily capable man. I thought I read he was too liberal about a couple of things that would be an issue with me, but I can't remember what they are now. The fact that he's a handsome man doesn't hurt either :-).

[ndt]

"Not until they get the more than one wife thing cleaned up."

They stopped the process in 1890 and excommunicate polygamists. It's a church, that about all they have the power to do. What would you have them do, draw and quarter them?

[nctexan]

"I think my vote will come down to Hunter or Romney.."

I love all of Hunter's positions but it's that 'total immersion' baptism thing of the Baptists that bothers me.

I'm kinda concerned that if he's elected it will be mandatory, and I'm not a good swimmer.

[Reaganesque]

Mitt was also a Stake President over the Boston area. He also served as Young Men's President and several other leadership positions. I encourage you to go somewhere other than the Mormon critic's websites for your knowledge of the church. LDS.org leaps to mind. Straight from the horse's mouth, as it were. Then decide for yourself. Getting information about the church from other religions and the critic's websites is like going to a Ford dealership and asking them if you should buy a Chevy. You're not going to get a straight answer.

[sibb1213]

Please tell me why no one ask about Obama's Muslim religion upbringing?????? Give me a break! They see someone who just might beat Hitlery and go after him on one issue, just like George Allen, and he just bites the dust. We as Conservative Americans must work to put the ball rolling behind a good, honest, conservative for our next occupant of the White House.

[sevenbak]

Uh, 150 years is not enough for ya?

Also, you may want to see this thread, starting with post 53. Did you know that YOU yourself likely have polygamist ancestors. Mitt is no different.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1783014/posts