Posted on 11/20/2006 8:24:45 AM PST by areafiftyone
Mitt Romney (R) begins the 2008 campaign season in fourth place among those seeking the GOP Presidential nomination, trailing Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Condoleezza Rice. While many Republican insiders believe the Massachusetts Governor could become an attractive candidate to the party's social conservatives, a Rasmussen Reports survey finds that Romney's faith may initially be more of a hindrance than a help.
Forty-three percent (43%) of American voters say they would never even consider voting for a Mormon Presidential candidate. Only 38% say they would consider casting such a vote while 19% are not sure. Half (53%) of all Evangelical Christians say that they would not consider voting for a Mormon candidate.
Overall, 29% of Likely Voters have a favorable opinion of Romney while 30% hold an unfavorable view. Most of those opinions are less than firmly held. Ten percent (10%) hold a very favorable opinion while 11% have a very unfavorable assessment. Among the 41% with no opinion of Romney, just 27% say they would consider voting for a Mormon.
It is possible, of course, that these perceptions might change as Romney becomes better known and his faith is considered in the context of his campaign. Currently, just 19% of Likely Voters are able to identify Romney as the Mormon candidate from a list of six potential Presidential candidates.
The response to a theoretical Mormon candidate is far less negative than the response to a Muslim candidate or an atheist. Sixty-one percent (61%) of Likely Voters say they would never consider voting for a Muslim Presidential candidate. Sixty percent (60%) say the same about an atheist.
The Rasmussen Reports survey found that 35% say that a candidate's faith and religious beliefs are very important in their voting decision. Another 27% say faith and religious beliefs are somewhat important. Ninety-two percent (92%) of Evangelical Christian voters consider a candidate's faith and beliefs important.
On the partisan front, 78% of Republicans say that a candidate's faith is an important consideration, a view shared by 55% of Democrats. However, there is also a significant divide on this topic within the Democratic Party. Among minority Democrats, 71% consider faith and religious beliefs an important consideration for voting. Just 44% of white Democrats agree.
The national telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports November 16-17, 2006. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
The Catholic Church has 'babtism by Desire'. . .implying that if one leads a good life; one that follows spiritual Principle. . .then that person earns a 'Babtism of Desire'. . .this is how they reconcile the delemma of those of other 'Faiths' i.e. Jews/non-Christians; or just un-babtised 'Christians' who otherwise would be excluded, can be spiritually sanctioned to enter Heaven.
See 'Babtism of the Dead' as perhaps a similar concept.
Can we just appreciate people. . .political leaders who live a 'moral life' and one that is honorable. . .who are perhaps both 'God-loving and God-fearing'; without a Christian Bible litmus test?
Certainly have fond memories of the Bible-carrying Clinton's doing their 'entering and exiting' photo-ops. . .
You would have to change the Constitution.
Did I CALL it in #57, or what??
The same as Catholicism was when Kennedy ran. It won't stop him as the public sees what they are getting.
I would vote for Mitt. I may disagree with his religious beliefs, but he has good political beliefs.
But, many would not. I think he would cost us 2008 and sweep Hillary into office.
Then the American electorate is stupid enough to deserve what it gets.
Then 53% of evangelicals have ZERO grounds to complain about the bigotry of liberals/secularists who won't vote for an evangelical.
"My bigotry is better than your bigotry" doesn't fly.
1. This is obviously the first salvo against Mitt Romney. The MSM will do hit pieces on any and every potential Republican Presidential candidate.
2. When pressed, I would not be surprised when 1 or more major Dims come out and say that the vast majority of the 43% are intolerant, racist, bigoted conservatives. After all, just last week it was Chuckie Boy Schumer who said that yes, this country is bigoted towards jews, but that most of those people are conservatives.
3. Like it or not, religion will again play a big part in the upcoming Presidential election. Expect all Dims to get religion once again (just like so many did in this past 2006 election). Interesting how liberals will do all they can to destroy Catholicism and Christianity, yet during elections they make sure to let us know they are all Christians or Catholics.
Woohoo! I'm one of the 43%!
SIR, YOU OBVIOUSLY CAN'T READ.
MORMONS THINK YOU ARE GOING TO HELL. THEY SAY YOU AREN'T A CHRISTIAN.
DOES THAT UPSET YOU?
I decide what is Christian based upon the Scriptures.
I don't know of any faith that practices anything called "babtism".
Hillary sees Mitt as potentially biggest threat.
Dems/MSM/pollsters psyche job starts earlier for 2008.
No, I'm not shooting the messenger. Just pointing out that those who would opt to elect Democrats because of the religion issue are willing to flush this country down history's toilet--over a fairly minor issue of theology as opposed to conduct.
Just marveling at the stupidity of my fellow citizens.
Doubt than in their 'wildest'; Laura and George could meet the Hillary-level expectations of 'taste'.
Where did that information come from? We don't sit around saying people are going to Hell. We believe all religions have truth. We also believe that not all religions are complete.
Yeah, but it would look like a DC-8.
There must be some reason that the lamestream media is worried about the sheeple not endorsing one of their hand-picked candidates (McClain or Guilani) or they wouldn't even be bringing up this s*** now.
Unless a governor the caliber of Mark Sanford announces, Romney is-- by far-- the best of any of the announced candidates so far from the viewpoint of electability/competence/adherence to principle.
The senate is full of morons who would rather please the press than make good executive decisions. The house just doesn't have anyone capable of putting together the money and name recognition to make a serious run. This leaves the pool pretty much limited to governors and high-profile legislators or former legislators like Newt Gingrich, who has his own history of bimbo problems.
"My bigotry is better than your bigotry" doesn't fly.
AMEN!
Christians, to be true to the scripture, MUST understand that believing in Christ is the only way to eternal life. It gets annoying, however, when certain breeds claim to have a monopoly on the proper understanding of what it means to "believe in Christ".
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