I meant that I don’t think Pete Wilson’s endorsement is very valuable to anybody.
In terms of California, which is on the left coast and also has a lot of Mormons, I suspect that Romney will win anyway.
One of the things we are underestimating is the big and powerful presence of Mormons in the Western states. It’s a creepy cult but its members are very well controlled, disciplined and deceitful. If you wanted to put it in different terms, it would be like having Scientology (based in St Petersburg, FL and extremely powerful in Florida) become the major influence in the South.
As far as the value, I’m not sure. I haven’t lived in CA since the Pete Wilson days so I have no clue on the local politics.
As far as the Mormons, I used to work with many a Mormon out west and they all were very decent people. People were afraid Kennedy was going to rule from Rome. I’m sure most Catholics voted for Kennedy - and there’s nothing like making a group feel isolated to make them vote/act in lockstep. I think it’s overdone. Like the Catholics before them, the Mormons don’t have to worry about ruling. Their influence will be boosted most by simply having a successful presidency (read scandal free for the church) and enjoying the legitimizing benefits of that association. If they’re able to get 50% more Mormons over time because of that (time 10% of income) that’s a whole lot of power.
That’s my 2c. As stated before, I’ll certainly feel the ass if I’m being hauled off to the Mormon re-education camp but it’s not keeping me up nights now.