Romney’s challenge to sway evangelical voters

Washington Post ^ | March 22, 2012 | E.J. Dionne, Jr.

[Colofornian]

The Republican presidential primaries this year have turned into a religious census. There is little precedent in modern politics for the extent to which a state’s choice for a nominee has coincided so closely with how many of its ballots were cast by white evangelical voters.

Where evangelicals cast a minority of the ballots, Mitt Romney has won. Where evangelical voters predominated, Romney has lost, in most cases to Rick Santorum.

Romney’s victory Tuesday in Illinois fit snugly within this pattern. The result pointed to a continuing problem for Santorum: He has yet to break through in places where evangelicals were not the principal force.

While the exit polls did not question voters directly about their attitudes toward the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there is indirect evidence that Romney’s faith may be holding down his vote among non-Mormons for whom a candidate’s religion matters.

But it’s also true that Romney’s Mormonism has had a positive electoral side. Solidarity among Mormon voters, eager to break a historical barrier, helped Romney win Arizona, Nevada and Idaho. Romney won 96 percent among self-identified Mormons in Arizona and 88 percent in Nevada...

But outside of Mormon strongholds, voters most concerned about a candidate’s religious views are rejecting Romney. In 10 states that had voted before Illinois, exit pollsters asked voters how important it was for a candidate to share their religious beliefs.

On average, Romney received only 23 percent from voters who said a candidate’s religious views mattered a “great deal” to them. If one excludes Virginia (where Romney faced only Paul) and Arizona (with its substantial Mormon population), Romney’s average among these voters drops to 17 percent. By contrast, Santorum averaged 46 percent among voters who said a candidate’s religious views mattered a great deal.

[Colofornian]

From the column: The Republican presidential primaries this year have turned into a religious census. There is little precedent in modern politics for the extent to which a state’s choice for a nominee has coincided so closely with how many of its ballots were cast by white evangelical voters. Where evangelicals cast a minority of the ballots, Mitt Romney has won. Where evangelical voters predominated, Romney has lost, in most cases to Rick Santorum...On average, Romney received only 23 percent from voters who said a candidate’s religious views mattered a “great deal” to them. If one excludes Virginia (where Romney faced only Paul) and Arizona (with its substantial Mormon population), Romney’s average among these voters drops to 17 percent. By contrast, Santorum averaged 46 percent among voters who said a candidate’s religious views mattered a great deal.

IOW...since we can't count on Catholics or mainline Protestants to make a difference here, if we could vastly up the Evangelical turnout in the remaining states, Romney could be stopped.

From the column: But it’s also true that Romney’s Mormonism has had a positive electoral side. Solidarity among Mormon voters, eager to break a historical barrier, helped Romney win Arizona, Nevada and Idaho. Romney won 96 percent among self-identified Mormons in Arizona and 88 percent in Nevada...

Oh, give me a break! This Post columnist uses positive framing of this..."a positive electoral side" and "solidarity" to describe Mormons' lockstep voting patterns. yet if 95-96% of Catholics voted for a Catholic candidate; or if 95-96% of Evangelicals voted for an Evangelical candidate, the MSM would be all up in arms for months on end!

We'd hear cries ot theocratic control coming out the MSM woodwork...But Mormons? They not only get a "free pass" on this, but about-face coverage as positive.

Don't get me wrong...I support Lds voting for whoever they want...for whatever reasons they want to weigh...I've been saying that on FR going back to '07...but i CAN't believe the MSM's uneven coverage in how they go about framing this...

One other note as to what this kind of lockstep identity politics means...and here I am talking about...

* Arizona (2012): 96% of Lds vote for Romney;

* Nevada: 88% of Lds vote for Romney (2012) and 95% of Lds vote for Romney (2008)

* Utah (2008): 95% of Lds vote for Romney

...Given Romney's liberal politics...socialized healthcare...willingness to "donate" embryos to "research" (dec 2007)...on & on..this negates once & for all any semblance that Mormons are at their core "conservative" -- or that conservatism means anything to them in comparison to elevating their religion.

Harry Reid could put an (R) next to his name if he ran for POTUS and he'd get over 80% of Mormon voters!

[Da Coyote]

Ah, the Etch-A-Sketch worketh its wonders already.

[Tennessee Nana]

Romney won 96 percent among self-identified Mormons in Arizona and 88 percent in Nevada...
________________________________________

No bigotry there...

[svcw]

Any “evangelical” (whatever they are) or conservative or born again Christian or Catholic (because they identity them self separately) or any combination of these who votes for Romney and his pro abortion, pro homosexual agenda self - is an idiot.
Romney is a fracking liberal - it is that simple.
And before you reply - Romney is who he is because of his mormonism not in spite of it.
place marker

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

My primary reason for opposing Mitt Romney is because he is a social liberal (and a handbasket driver), not because he is a Mormon.

I have doctrinal differences with Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, and a host of other religious groups. That typically doesn’t figure into whom I vote for as President. I simply believe that Mitt Romney will do nothing to change the direction of the social and spiritual decay in this country.

And I will not vote for him, even if he is the Republican nominee.

[Linda Frances]

I won’t vote for him either. It will be third party or I write someone in. I just hope there is a good third party. With so many republicans angry about what the gop and romney did to us, I think there will be. This might be the year.

[Colofornian]

I have doctrinal differences with Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, and a host of other religious groups. That typically doesn’t figure into whom I vote for as President.

So idolatry is reduced by you to a "doctrinal difference?" Really?

If you were a Sarah Palin supporter -- and at some point she ran for POTUS -- announcing in the process that she is "divine material" as a goddess...that would in your eyes simply constitute a "doctrinal difference?" Really?

It seems to me then that your "fave" candidate could make THE most outlandish religious claims ever...say that he was "the devil himself"...or that he was "the anti-Christ"...and you would simply write that off as a "doctrinal difference."

Truly pathetic is your "grade for the day" in basic discernment.

[dt57]

There are more than doctrinal differences with Mormans. Yes, there are differences between denominations and I understand that. Mormanism is a different religion. I am not saying anything bad about them, it is just the truth. They are not a part of the Christian community, no more than Jeovah Witness.

[dt57]

I will not vote for Romney either, but you are not being very helpful to say the least. Calling someone an idiot for disagreeing with you is not cool. Stop it.

[Colofornian]

(to svcw): Calling someone an idiot for disagreeing with you is not cool. Stop it.

(Even if they're being idiotic? So that word should be struck from all contemporary dictionaries as being archaic or not PC?)

[svcw]

No.
Romney is a liberal, if you claim to be a conservative and vote for him, I stand by my statement - you are an idiot.
There is no way to justify voting for a man (Romney) who is nearly identical to BHO and still say you are a conservative.
both are pro abortion
both are pro homosexual agenda
both are pro government mandate
both are pro big government
both are gun grabbers
both are pro man made global warming
If you claim to be a conservative and vote for either of these men - you are an idiot.

[dt57]

yes you can say they are being idiotic, and I would agree with you. Calling them names is not cool. Period. Be careful friend.

[Captain Peter Blood]

I agree!!! We will have no viable choice this November at all. I predict many Conservatives and Independents will stay home and not vote. If there were a viable 3rd party it might make a difference.
I will vote but I will write in “NONE OF THE ABOVE”!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dt57]

Last time. Stop it. And I agree with you. I will not vote for Mr. Romney.

[svcw]

idiot: Showing foolishness or stupidity.

moron: A very stupid person

imbecile: Great stupidity or foolishness.

Well, that settles it, I will no longer call people who claim to be conservative and vote for Romney idiots, they really are imbeciles.

[svcw]

ping to #15

[svcw]

We need to vote the rest of the ballot, just leave president blank or a candidate of your choice or write in.

[PeachyKeen]

“I will not vote for Mr. Romney.”

Excellent...There is no way I would or could ever vote for Romney..BTW, it's MORMON not morMAN. He is a liberal but his Mormonism has a lot to do with it also

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

I did say “primary reason” and “typically doesn’t”. I didn’t say that it had no impact.

I might add, however, that Mormon doctrine isn’t the only thing being taught today that could endanger one’s soul. I do not relegate “doctrinal differences” to some minor but religiously acceptable catalog of curiosities. Perhaps you do. I do not. I think that the doctrinal diversity of our day and time is a travesty. Yet, wisdom seem to necessitate that I make some choice politically in these degenerate times.

My first and second choices at this point are Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich. Both are Roman Catholics. I think that Roman Catholicism contains grievous errors. I have spoken against, written against, and taught college classes against these errors. (The same holds true for my opposition to Mormonism.) Yet I believe that Rick and/or Newt, by God’s grace in using imperfect vessels, might help lead our country away from the abyss.

Imperfect choices. Wisdom required. I choose as wisely as I can.

And you can save your vitriol for someone else. I suspect that I have opposed the teachings of Mormonism far more than you have ever dreamed of, and will continue to do so. Real life consists of more than sitting safely behind your computer screen condemning others.

[svcw]

Apparently you are offended by the word idiot. It is descriptive word. I could have said anyone who votes for Romney a runner or a red head. It is just a description.