Posted on 02/02/2008 5:39:51 PM PST by jdm
Mitt Romney has taken a detour from the frenetic campaign trail to attend the funeral in Salt Lake City of the Mormon leader, Gordon Hinckley, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, who died last week, aged 97.
For the Mormon candidate, it was a diversion he could ill afford as he seeks to win enough presidential delegates on "Super Tuesday" this week to keep him in the race for the White House.
Republican strategists said the funeral puts Mr Romney's Mormonism back on the political agenda - an issue he has largely managed to sideline in recent weeks as the focus has fallen on economic issues, where the multi-millionaire businessman thrives.
He now trails John McCain by more than 20 points in national polls. Jim Nuzzo, a former White House aide from Mr Romney's home state of Massachusetts, said: "There are two things that don't work out for Romney going to this funeral. One is reminding people that he is a Mormon. They're going to recognise that it's different from mainstream Christianity.
"The second is that when people are wondering whether your campaign is on life support, the last thing you want to do is be pictured at a funeral."
Mr Romney was already virtually guaranteed to win Utah on Tuesday, a state that gives relatively little return in the form of delegates required to win the nomination. The funeral interrupted a hectic cross-country battle for Republican votes, which translate into the delegates who will formally decide who will be the Republican candidate for the White House.
Up for grabs are nearly half of all delegates necessary to be crowned the victor at party nomination conventions in the autumn. Mr Romney squeezed in an event in Minnesota before the funeral, while Mr McCain began a trail through the South, while planning an audacious raid today on Mr Romney's home turf of Massachusetts.
On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton concentrated her efforts in the West yesterday before a sweep of eastern states today and tomorrow. Barack Obama was planning visits to eight states in the final 72 hours before voting.
Mr Romney has invested nearly $3 million (£1.5 million) more of his personal cash on advertising in the run-up to Tuesday's votes. Mr McCain has bought nationwide advertising on cable television. Mr Obama is on the air in 20 states and Mrs Clinton in 12.
McCain aides appeared reluctant to make political capital out of the funeral. One said: "Everyone has that in life, where unfortunately we've got to go to a funeral. We've all been there. He knew the man and obviously had a high regard for him."
But the McCain team believes that their rival should quit his self-funded campaign.
Mr Romney says he will reassess his prospects on Wednesday.
Sarcasm noted. Mormons, of course, are not devil worshippers, but as I understand it, they do in fact believe Jesus and Satan to be brothers (though they like to present their view in a more nuanced manner).
But to the point of this article, apparently Romney doesn't care about the political implications of attending the funeral. He feels like he should be there ... and he's going. Good for him.
All in all, it's a dumb article.
With principles that can turn on a dime.
I don’t much like Mitt, but I respect him more for this.
I have nothing but respect for Senators Hatch and Bennett. They are pro-life heroes. Romney’s legacy as governor will always be the socialist subsidization of abortion.
Sarcasm,like gallows humor, is often ugly. Sometimes you just have to let art flow over you.
Apples and pears more like it. There are many months before it matters.
Go Mitt.
I seen it,,let’s get down to the real thing here..We vote tuesday,our folks are out,,,, maybe there is no one left worth voting for,,hell,this is where we get information..
When it's your parents, I think that's different (and much more important, as anyone who's a strong family person can attest). Romney was a big fan of this guy, but I don't think they were related.
“And yet he did it anyway. That shows class.”
It was fitting that he honor the man that gave the go ahead for his presidential ambitions, If Hinckley had said no, there would be no Romney and no Romney money in the race.
Did not mean to jump,,
But that probably would go over better on a Full Moon..
Good for him. We all need to take time to mourn the loss of our friends and loved ones. I attended calling hours out of town for an old family friend myself today.
97 is a ripe old age. May he RIP.
Republican strategists ...My question is who are these people?
How can attending this Memorial Service affect Romney's campaign? Romney is a Mormon not an Islamic terrorist or a Socialist,Communist or a dem.
Myeh, that’s the risk you always take when trying to be facetious on the internet. I knew that when I wrote it.
A vote for McCain is a vote for Hillary; a vote for Huckabee is a vote for McCain.
Huckabee needs to step aside. Even John Edwards is a better man than Huckabee. Way better.
Go, Mitt!
BTW, Mitt is cleaning Mac’s clock tonight in Maine. 53 percent of the vote at last count to McCain’s 21 percent.
Now 64% in and Mitt has 52%; McCain 22%.
Sooooeeeete!
I’m guilty,,
If I could I’d shake youur hand,,
This is evil and cruel and wrong. Most decent (I said “decent”) people are reverent and polite when someone dies. This thread was started obviously to try and hurt Romney at a time when LDS folks are mourning the death of our leader.
I am proud of Romney for taking time off from campaigning to attend the funeral of a great religious leader who served the Lord practically his whole life. Romney wanted to pay his respects.
I think it’s a good thing that people will be reminded that Romney is a respectful member of a church whose name bears the name of the Savior of the world.
Romney needs to go back to massachusetts where he is so loved and revered.
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