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If the Romney gets the evangelical vote during the primaries he will have over 60% chance of becoming the nominee and over 80% chance of becoming President. The question is will he get the evangilical vote?

Your assessment is sound. This will be a real test of evangelicals to see if they can put aside their many perceived and few actual theological differences with Mormons and realize that what is more important is supporting someone with the same values. A person of the Jewish faith is not Christian, doesn't agree theologically, but may also share the same values. I would hope that evangelicals would also vote for someone of the Jewish faith for the same reason.

I don't think anyone should hesitate to pull the lever for someone who shares their same values despite some theological differences. When theological differences come into play is when those theological differences lead to a wide separation of values. When a candidate's values are nearly the same as a voter, then the theological differences aren't nearly as relevant - if at all.

I have a hard time believing that Romney will garner an overwhelming majority of the evangelical support, and I say that as a Romney supporter.

You’d think that Thompson would have had a lot of that locked up. He’s a son of the south. Sort of talks like it. But his confessions about not supporting the Federal Marriage Amendment, not believing in criminalizing abortion, and not finding church important enough to him to attend on a regular basis will cut into his votes.

It would make sense for Romney to be the candidate evangelicals rally behind. He’s the one espousing their views. Will they? Like you said, I’m not sure.

If Huckabee had a different last name, a lot more money, or hadn’t been such an open borders/tax raisin’ kind of guy, we might have a different story. If Thompson hadn’t espoused the views he does, we might have a different story. As for now, I think Romney could rally some late support. As is even evidenced on here, his Mormonism will hurt him. As will the fact that he changed position on abortion, regardless of his veto record in Mass.

But I think he’s in good position to start to pull more supporters into his camp, especially as they start heeding the message more closely.

The question is will he get the evangilical vote?

If he is viewed as the only hope of defeating Giuliani, yes.

At least one can rationalize that Romney is a Mormon and actually really is a social conservative.

I'd trust Romney to keep his word far more than Giuliani.

The thing with Mormons and Orthodox Christians I see is that Mormons have been defined by others through much of their history. (the media, Washington in their conflicts with the Mormons, the competition, other churches worried about Sheep Stealing etc.) This is what occurs with politcal parties as well. The left has defined the right as a racist party so it is accepted in the general public. But in reality it is not the case. Even though 90% of the articles you'll see say right wingers are racists.

Mormons have been defnined by outsiders through much of our history. Think about it, many non-mormons I have met will say things like, "those mormons sure are a cult but the ones I know personally are the nicest people with the nicest families." Now that the Church of Jesus Chirst of Latter Day Saints is larger and can actually talk back on a larger scale through their numbers and the media, many think we have redefined ourselves or changed our teachings, or are hiding something. We are just able to let others know what we already know about our own beliefs. Think about it. How long has the MSM been lying about what Evangelicals believe? The MSM has also been lying about Mormons for over a hundred years. They still do it.

Richard J. Mouw - President at Fuller Theological Seminary

I know that I have learned much in this continuing dialogue, and I am now convinced that we evangelicals have often seriously misrepresented the beliefs and practices of the Mormon community. Indeed, let me state it bluntly to the LDS folks here this evening: we have sinned against you. The God of the Scriptures makes it clear that it is a terrible thing to bear false witness against our neighbors, and we have been guilty of that sort of transgression in things we have said about you. We have told you what you believe without making a sincere effort first of all to ask you what you believe.