Uh, I really like Romney (at least, better than McInsane or Giuliani) but I don't think the heckler got "owned" or that Romney's response was particularly smooth and persuasive. It seemed quite pedestrian. He never did what he should have, which was to say that he does indeed believe in and have a relationship with Jesus. In one sentence he could shut down the evangelicals and Catholics who are uncertain about whether or not they could vote for a Mormon.
Stayed tuned, I believe you will hear much of this addressed, and in a manner you will approve, in a speech before 100+ religious leaders later this month. Mitt wants to address the religion issue directly as John Kennedy did in his speech before the Greater Houston Ministerial Association in September, 1960.
Incidentally, the Orlando Sentinel printed this quote from the incident although I couldn't hear it in the audio:
The crowd booed the man from the room, and Romney responded: "First of all, I believe in God."
As far as the reaction by the crowd to the heckler (loud booing) and the crowd's reaction to Mitt's response (standing ovation), it was very gratifying to witness and what I've been predicting. Americans are very likely to mount a fierce backlash against any person or group attempting to turn our U.S. elections into a religious jihad involving foolish and hurtful assertions that "our Jesus is better than their Jesus". I think we saw a good example of that predictable backlash in this video.
The David Koresh wing of the evangelicals already know it all. They won't listen.
Remember Willie Green? You can tell him some basic common sense 10 times completely refuting him, yet the very next sentence he starts all over again.
If someone has an honest question about Mormons, thats fine. Ask away, there are plenty of knowlegeable people who can assist.
Most of these questions aren't honest questions though.
They are taking their own cult and using it to call someone else one.