If Mitt should make it to the general election, do you really believe that in a debate with Hillary he would be handled with the kid gloves you want? Mitt better be ready for prime time by then. His off air demeanor indicates he isn't there yet.
The wiggle room factor seems to be so wide for the public Mormon that one wonders if the private Mormon response to Mormonism is as the same, wide and broad for interpretation. The published documents from the religious texts of LDS are self-evidently anti-Orthodox Christianity yet the apologetics approach seems to be to vague everything out when confronted on a specific. Mitt did it and repeatedly did it in the 'off air' portion.
The Mormonism Apologists combing over threads at FR do it constantly. It appears to be a strategy that works when you can call someone a bigot for opposing Mormonism heresies, but that won't get off the runway against the DNC and their sycophantic media minions. Therein is the real danger of Mitt as nominee.
I don’t remember Bill, Hillary, or any Democrat being interrogated that way. I thought Mitt handled himself well.
Bill Clinton flies off the handle at the mildest challenge, for example the Chris Wallace interview. If Hillary interrupted Mitt as this questioner did, she would come across very badly.