Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Romney to Address Mormonism

With Huckabee ahead in Iowa, Romney hopes to draw Christian voters

By Katherine Thompson, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 3, 2007 7:24 AM CST

(Newser) – Mormon presidential hopeful Mitt Romney will address voters' discomfort about his faith in a speech Thursday, hoping to repeat JFK's 1960 success in allaying fears about his Catholicism, the Boston Globe reports. The former Mass. governor wants to convince Christian voters that his faith shouldn't be a reason to turn to other candidates—something they may already be doing, given Mike Huckabee's gains in the polls.

Despite Romney's reminders that voters aren't choosing a "pastor-in-chief," polls show 25-40% of Americans saying they would not vote for a Mormon. In his "Faith in America" speech at the George Bush Presidential Library in Texas, Romney will cover questions of "religious liberty, the grand tradition religious tolerance has played in the progress of our nation, and how the governor's own faith would inform his presidency."

Joni Scotter, of Marion, Iowa, listens to Republican presidential hopeful, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speak during a meeting with local residents and students, Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, at Kirkwood... (Associated Press)

Republican presidential hopeful, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, waits as he is introduced at a campaign stop in Manchester, N.H. Saturday, Dec.1, 2007. (AP Photo/Cheryl Senter) (Associated Press)

Republican presidential hopeful, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks during a meeting with local residents and students, Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids,... (Associated Press)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Gingrich Aide Canned Over 'Cult of Mormon' Comment

Iowa political director out after less than a week

(NEWSER) - Newt Gingrich's Iowa political director is out of a job after less than a week because of disparaging remarks he made about Mitt Romney's Mormon faith, the Des Moines Register reports. "A lot of the evangelicals believe God would give us four more years of Obama just for the opportunity to expose the cult of Mormon," Craig Bergman told a focus group last week. "There's a thousand pastors ready to do that." More»

Mike to Mitt: So Sorry About Mormon Jab

Candidates make nice; Romney accepts apology

(NEWSER) - Surging GOP candidate Mike Huckabee apologized to Mitt Romney yesterday for having asked a reporter if Mormons believed that Jesus and the Devil are brothers. Huckabee said he apologized after the Republican debate in Iowa, and Romney "graciously" accepted. Earlier this week Romney had slammed Huckabee, a former Baptist minister, for his statement, saying it went too far and "It's not the American way." More»

Mitt: 'Freedom Requires Religion'

Romney stands by Mormon faith in long-awaited address

(NEWSER) - In a much-hyped address on religion, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney asserted today, “Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone." The former Massachusetts governor focused on religious liberty during the speech in College Station, Texas, but did allow that if Mormonism hurts his candidacy, “so be it.” Romney avoided addressing specifics of a faith many evangelicals consider a cult. More»

Mormons Losing Faith in Mitt

Romney's attempts to look like an Evangelical disturb some in his own faith

(NEWSER) - Mitt Romney’s attempts to massage his Mormon faith are causing grumbles in Utah, the New Republic reports. Many criticize Romney for downplaying key beliefs to win over mainstream Christians who traditionally loathe them. “I understand he has to appeal to them,” said one Mormon, “but it makes me, as a Mormon, feel very, very queasy to see him doing it.” More»

Romney Keeps Touting Dad's Mexican Birth

But leaves out crucial detail that could upset evangelicals

(NEWSER) - In an effort to win over Florida's wealth of Hispanic voters, Mitt Romney trotted out a little-mentioned piece of family history more than once this week. "My dad was born in Mexico," he often said, expressing sympathy for immigrants. "I wish I could claim that I'm Hispanic, and that would help me in the Latino community," he told Fox News yesterday. But he's not—his parents were born to Americans living in Mexico—but Romney said he was "very proud" of his father's story. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Romney to Address Mormonism

With Huckabee ahead in Iowa, Romney hopes to draw Christian voters

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Mitt Romney • religion • Mormonism • Iowa caucuses

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Gingrich Aide Canned Over 'Cult of Mormon' Comment

Iowa political director out after less than a week

Mike to Mitt: So Sorry About Mormon Jab

Candidates make nice; Romney accepts apology

Mitt: 'Freedom Requires Religion'

Romney stands by Mormon faith in long-awaited address

Mormons Losing Faith in Mitt

Romney's attempts to look like an Evangelical disturb some in his own faith

Romney Keeps Touting Dad's Mexican Birth

But leaves out crucial detail that could upset evangelicals

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Romney to Address Mormonism

With Huckabee ahead in Iowa, Romney hopes to draw Christian voters

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Mitt Romney • religion • Mormonism • Iowa caucuses

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Gingrich Aide Canned Over 'Cult of Mormon' Comment

Iowa political director out after less than a week

Mike to Mitt: So Sorry About Mormon Jab

Candidates make nice; Romney accepts apology

Mitt: 'Freedom Requires Religion'

Romney stands by Mormon faith in long-awaited address

Mormons Losing Faith in Mitt

Romney's attempts to look like an Evangelical disturb some in his own faith

Romney Keeps Touting Dad's Mexican Birth

But leaves out crucial detail that could upset evangelicals

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?