Evangelicals to McCain: No Romney

Evangelicals do not want John McCain to pick Mitt Romney as his running mate, and they’re not being quiet about it, the Washington Times reports, with Mike Huckabee fans particularly in oppostion. “McCain and Romney would be like oil and water,” one says, citing the former Massachusetts governor’s flip-flops on issues like abortion. Many also don’t trust the Mormon Romney to oppose same-sex marriage.

"It will alienate the entire evangelical community, says one pastor, “62 million self-professing evangelicals in this country, half of them registered to vote, are going to be deeply saddened.” Romney-backers say their candidate will make up the difference by energizing fiscal conservatives, but one confided that Romney “really doesn’t think he will be chosen.” (More Mitt Romney stories.)