As you can derive from this post, it is a driving force even now...
SD’s home page should answer any questions concerning her conservatism. Since 1998 she has been fighting the good fight on many fronts. That she is a Mormon is irrelevant to this discussion.
This article is pointing out, how, if Mitt Romney gets the GOP nomination - the first line of attack from the MSM and the Dems; will be his Mormon faith.
They need only read FR archives for a full frontal attack. Pray that it will not come to pass.