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 Mormon Church was created because they said the rest of the Christian world wasn't really Christian.
Nope, the church was created because Joseph Smith was told that none of the churches was “Correct”, and this was while he was trying to find out which church to join (by praying about it, which I still recommend)
>>We are Satanists and going to hell in Mormon eyes.
Nope, we don’t believe that those who were honestly doing their best will land in Hell, we believe that you will be saved in a Kingdom of god, just not as high of a one (I know, it doesn’t make you feel a whole lot better, but hey it’s better than going to hell, isn’t it?)
>>Why should we consider them Christian?
Because that would be accurate and honest?
This writer should be commended for how informed he/she is.
Thry're some pretty strict restrictions on who is (or isn't) a Kohain. A very select group which is an inherited status. Aren't you now a Christian?
Prove it.
>>Their beliefs are so darn strange.
It's all a matter of perspective, you beliefs migh seem starange to us.
I would rather have a Christain of any stripe who actively lives his religion, than a Mormon who is not living his.
(And I am more worried about Mitt's Conservative credentials actually)
4 I would add intelligence and ability to think on their feet.
5 Can appeal to the Common Man.
6 Executive ability seems to be a necessity if our history is considered. It is rare that any one not elected as an executive wins the office.
7 Can appeal to more than conservatives. Reagan is the chief example here.
Right now I see no one able to beat Guiliani given those characteristics. He is not a conservative on all issues but is pre-eminent in regards to the other requirements. And, for the most important issues: economy, War on Terror and Court appointments he will do.
>>They even have baptism for the dead, completely unbiblical.
Read a book before posting about it:
1 Cor 15:29 (KJV) 29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?
Romney is usually 3rd or 4th place in most 2008 state polls except his home state of Utah. But Condi is usually NOT on those polls.
>> http://www.carm.org/questions/baptismfordead.htm
Somewhat interesting take that I disagree with. Nothing I haven't seen before.
>>So you expect us to read your PR department's version of what Mormons believe?
Would you go to ford’s web site to find out anything about A Toyota pickup?
your close...except the part about the Holy Ghost..
LDS does not understand the verse correctly.
Given the commitment of Mormons to family values, I think the Democrats would be far less likely to vote for a Mormon than a conservative Republican. However, Romney's advocacy for universal health care if not a nationalized medical system and his origins in Maryland are more troubling than his church affiliation.
That is the most illogical statement I've read yet. Obviously you have no understanding of the how Mormons view the rest of christianity.
>> LDS does not understand the verse correctly.
Or maybe you dont /shrug
We will need women to vote for us if we are going to win. Many women will vote for Hillary just because she is a woman as crazy as that seems. I don't see Giuliani appealing to those women as much as Romney will. I think we've lost a big chunk of the Hispanic vote. We will need to appeal to many women and the moderate democrats to win. As many voters we can attract with Romney's good looks, personality and Reaganesque manner cannot be underestimated. It works for Arnold in California.
Prove it or shut up.
"Of course, most if not all of those are Dems."
This Mormon would have to respectfully disagree. The Evangelicals are the base of the Republican party. I spent a few years working alongside people from other religions on social issues. I was amazed at how visceral the antipathy is toward Mormons among some groups, including those I worked with. I think I was the first Mormon some of these people had ever talked to. Although we developed a working relationship, it was apparent that it made them uncomfortable even dealing with me. When we invited some of them to Utah for seminars, they acted like they were entering some evil sanctum, or something. I fully expected them to show up for meetings wearing garlic around their necks.
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