Posted on 11/20/2006 8:24:45 AM PST by areafiftyone
Mitt Romney (R) begins the 2008 campaign season in fourth place among those seeking the GOP Presidential nomination, trailing Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Condoleezza Rice. While many Republican insiders believe the Massachusetts Governor could become an attractive candidate to the party's social conservatives, a Rasmussen Reports survey finds that Romney's faith may initially be more of a hindrance than a help.
Forty-three percent (43%) of American voters say they would never even consider voting for a Mormon Presidential candidate. Only 38% say they would consider casting such a vote while 19% are not sure. Half (53%) of all Evangelical Christians say that they would not consider voting for a Mormon candidate.
Overall, 29% of Likely Voters have a favorable opinion of Romney while 30% hold an unfavorable view. Most of those opinions are less than firmly held. Ten percent (10%) hold a very favorable opinion while 11% have a very unfavorable assessment. Among the 41% with no opinion of Romney, just 27% say they would consider voting for a Mormon.
It is possible, of course, that these perceptions might change as Romney becomes better known and his faith is considered in the context of his campaign. Currently, just 19% of Likely Voters are able to identify Romney as the Mormon candidate from a list of six potential Presidential candidates.
The response to a theoretical Mormon candidate is far less negative than the response to a Muslim candidate or an atheist. Sixty-one percent (61%) of Likely Voters say they would never consider voting for a Muslim Presidential candidate. Sixty percent (60%) say the same about an atheist.
The Rasmussen Reports survey found that 35% say that a candidate's faith and religious beliefs are very important in their voting decision. Another 27% say faith and religious beliefs are somewhat important. Ninety-two percent (92%) of Evangelical Christian voters consider a candidate's faith and beliefs important.
On the partisan front, 78% of Republicans say that a candidate's faith is an important consideration, a view shared by 55% of Democrats. However, there is also a significant divide on this topic within the Democratic Party. Among minority Democrats, 71% consider faith and religious beliefs an important consideration for voting. Just 44% of white Democrats agree.
The national telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports November 16-17, 2006. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
I cant wait to hear our liberal leaders and Jesse Jackson decry how unaccepting and intolerant all of us Americans are....
Of course, most if not all of those are Dems. Our state rep (for several terms) was Mormon and it didn't seem to hurt him at all.
I've been saying this over-and-over and keep getting attacked as "Anti-Mormon."
Not the case at all. (I know squat about Mormons, other than they make good neighbors and that the Methodist Church and Roman Catholics don't accept their baptisms.)
It's a fact.
I can hear now Pat Robertson getting on the 700 Club and saying "God will withdraw his protection from us if we support a non-Christian like Romney."
Yes, yes, I know Mormon consider this Christian. Again, I have no idea on the subject.
I am just stating a fact: the "700 Club" set won't vote for Romney
And a Republican CANNOT get elected with active dislike of that group.
Period.
Hillary would get out her fake 2ft by 2ft Bible and claim to be a Christian and that would be all it will take.
The Pilgrims are rolling in their graves...
Personally for me religion does not mean a thing. I go for the way a candidate stands on the issues that are important to me and also what he has done in office.
When did Condi float the idea of running?
While I would have no problem voting for some Mormons, this particular one is a non-starter (or Hatch for that matter).
I agree. I wonder how many of the 19% who knew he was Morman would support him. This should be a relatively easy hurdle, like the first catholic, the first womanizer/abuser, etc. Besides, he is cute.
"...Never mind."
They're not Trinitarians. The "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" are supposedly three persons who used to be human beings. The Father got promoted to the job of ruler of this planet. Eventually, if you're good, you can have your own planet too. If you don't believe me, look it up.
He seems to be making headway with this group. The more they see him and the better they know him, the more they like him.
See wwww.evangelicalsformitt.com.
LOL I don't know why they keep putting her name in. I guess because they don't have enough well known candidates to go on yet.
"Why would Pat Robertson call a member of a Christian church a "non-Christian?""
Because certain evangelical groups do not consider Mormons Christians.
Has something to do with not recognizing the Trinity and/or that Jesus was fully God and fully man (or something -- I don't know enough about Mormonism to understand the dispute.)
Note, I am not saying Mormons are not Christians. I have no idea.
I am just stating that many, many Christian denominations do not consider Mormons Christians.
Whether the groups are correct or not is beside the point; they believe it to be so and will act accordingly.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.