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.
Well, actually, they do.
Praise God. Finally, a state with some common sense voters.
You were blaming Huckabee for something the Mormons believe
they do in fact believe Jesus and Satan to be brothers
Here is mention of one of their meetings.
Dec. 16, 2007 Meet the Press
MR. RUSSERT: I want to ask you about an interview you had with Sam Stone—Sunstone magazine. Here’s it on the cover. It’s a Mormon-based magazine. This is from November of ‘05, and it says, quote, “Romney sought advice from the man he admires most in this world, Mormon President Gordon Bitner Hinckley. The conversation eventually turned to whether a run for the presidency would be good for him and the church. The specifics of the conversation are, of course, known only to people who were there.”
Had McPain in the arse or the Huckster gone to a MORMON funeral they wouldn’t mention it. But because Mitt is a MORMON, they use this as excuse to make an issue out of it again - just before Super Tuesday - how convenient. Frankly I see his attending the funeral as showing character. Doing what is unpopular. Knowing it might cost you. He paid his respects to a friend regardless of what the hateful media will do with it. Mitt knows they'll spin the Mormon scare talk again. Yet he did the right thing - said goodbye to a friend. I can't wait to hear what the Christian bigit, Huckabee will say about this ... he should feast on this ... he's such a small, petty man. Certainly no man of God.
Let’s see...What would they have said about Romney if he had decided to ditch the funeral of the current president of his Church and just keep hucking for votes??? He’d be a flip-flopper on Mormonism? He’d be a phony Mormon? He’d be a hypocrite?
If I’m Romney, I’d rather maintain my dignity and go to the funeral in the middle of the campaign than make this an ACTUAL issue by willfully avoiding it for fear that it would remind people that I was a Mormon.
McCains poll numbers are a factor of the bandwagon effect. The lemmings wait until there is a inevitable candidate and then announce their support. Kinda like those ‘moderates’ who jump over the fence as soon as they see who is gonna prevail on any issue.
Unfortunately, FR has its share of bitter, nasty people. I’m ashamed of some of my former Thompson supporters. Some people are so miserable in their own lives that they want everybody to be miserable with them.
That is really dishonest. The Governor and even the liberal Legislature of Massachusetts had nothing to do with that $50 abortion. It was legislated by the Massachusetts Supreme Court. Just like our Supreme Court legislated abortion for the whole country and the fact is, we are paying for many abortions and don't even know it in state after state.
So if you are going to blame one Governor, you are going to have to blame a whole bunch more of them.
Since there isn’t any other group, we are all brothers and sisters. In the Bible 1/3 of them rebelled and were cast out..so...if your brother rebels..are you still his brother? I don’t think rebellion changes your birth into a population or changes your parents. It sounds like something when the charge is leveled but means nothing. It is biblical.
When I read some of the hateful comments on this thread, it hurts, but I am no longer surprised by the level of meanness - even at a time of loss for LDS members.
“Mourn with those who mourn” is a concept so foreign to some of these FReepers that it makes me sad for them.
Mitt Romney went to the funeral even though it means he might lose some votes. You are right. It was a classy thing to do. It shows he has scruples and values; he is a man of character.
I am proud to support Mitt Romney and sad for those who seize this opportunity to pile on in a disrespectful hateful manner.
Go, Mitt!
Going up, or down?
Cartoon banned ignored and sometimes laughed at by the Mormon church. people. The Church could care less.
excuses excuses. He signed the bill and didn’t veto. That’s leadership?
They DO think Jesus is Satan’s brother. They think YOU are satan’s brother too. And they think they will become gods.
But you guys don’t care, cuz he’s a conservative....just ask him (now).
Gordon B. Hinckley was beloved. I am so happy that Mitt Romney took time off the campaign trail to attend the funeral. Thank you for your kind remarks. I appreciate it.
Let’s see...What would they have said about Romney if he had decided to ditch the funeral of the current president of his Church and just keep hucking for votes??? He’d be a flip-flopper on Mormonism? He’d be a phony Mormon? He’d be a hypocrite.
Good post. Actually I thought it was rather disrespectful of McCain to skip Pres Bush’s last State of the Union so he could keep campaigning in FL. After all he is supposed to be in the Senate although he and Hillary don’t seem to find that very important anymore. And Obama. They should have to resign to run for Pres.
Sorry, I should have read the thread BEFORE I posted. I didn’t see your “end sarcasm” tag.
Romney received an award from the pro life organization of Massachusetts, meaning they felt he was a pro life governor. But the question remains - why are you on this thread? This is about Romney attending the funeral, leaving the campaign trail behind, to pay his respects to a great religious leader. Do you hate Mormons or something? Have a heart, please?
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