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Mitt Romney
Recent Activity
Friday April 4, 2008
The Anti-Mitt for VP Campaign
TIME's Swampland reports on an online petition aimed at dissuading John McCain from picking Mitt Romney as his running mate. The effort is reportedly run by a fringe Christian Right group. But God-o-Meter would guess that McCain would improve his standing among the Christian Right leadership by selecting Romney, who courted those leaders so assiduously as a presidential candidate.
Among too many rank-and-file evangelicals, though Romney never truly connected, and the so-called "Mormon issue" was only part of the reason. One more reason McCain is unlikely to enlist Romney as veep. That, and they seemed to hate each other's guts as on the campaign trail.
Filed Under: Christian Right, evangelical, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Mormon, running mates
posted by Dan Gilgoff @ 1:33am Permalink 
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Tuesday February 26, 2008
Josh Romney on the "Mormon Factor"
As he mulls a run for Congress in Utah, Mitt Romney's son Josh tells the Deseret Morning News that the Mormon factor mattered in his dad's primary loss largely because Mike Huckabee made it an issue:
Huckabee, a Southern Baptist minister, brought out a surprising number of evangelical voters in Iowa. They weren't voting against a Mormon candidate, Josh Romney said, but he did run into some "pockets of bigotry" occasionally on the campaign trail."When it's religion, you definitely take it personally," he said. "It's highly offensive, but I think that the vast majority of people we saw were very accepting. They said, 'Your dad shares our values and we don't care about his religion."'
Only a few times, he said, did he hear voters say they couldn't support a Mormon candidate for president. "I said, 'That's a very un-American thing to say.' I mean, this is a country that based on religious freedom," Josh Romney said.
At the beginning of the campaign, he said, there was much more attention on Mitt Romney's faith, including a Newsweek cover story. "People, when all they knew about my dad was that he was a Mormon, they had a lot of questions about it," Josh Romney said.
That interest had lessened as the campaign season wore on, he said, until Huckabee raised the question of whether Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers during a New York Times interview in December.
That may have hurt his father's campaign, because "it highlighted the fact that his religious views were different" and turned attention back to Mormonism for a few weeks, he said. "It was a smart political move for Gov. Huckabee."
Filed Under: Josh Romney, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Mormonism
posted by Dan Gilgoff @11:17am Permalink Email This Add to:
Tuesday February 19, 2008
Evangelicals Opposed to Mormons? Never!
Echoing Hot Air's response to God-o-Meter's op-ed on the Christian Right's failure to help its favored candidate, Mitt Romney, by candidly discussing his Mormonism, conservative Idaho blogger Adam Graham says:
I've always looked at a person's values, not their particular faith, in choosing a candidate.This is why I'm so offended at the suggestion of Dan Gilgoff in USA Today that the reason that Mitt Romney lost is because we Evangelicals just couldn't bring ourselves to vote for a Mormon. I've followed the national conversation among Conservative Christians about Mitt Romney. Little of it centered on his Mormonism, much more on the fact of his shift on the issues.
At the risk of being redundant, God-o-Meter again cites the recent analysis by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life about evangelical hang-ups over Mormon candidates:
[T]he group of Americans most likely to say they value religiosity in a president - white evangelical Protestants - is also the group most apt to be bothered by his religion. More than one-in-three evangelical Republicans (36%) expressed reservations about voting for a Mormon, a level of opposition much higher than that seen among the electorate overall.
In light of those numbers, God-o-Meter has trouble believing that Graham is really offended by the suggestion that Mitt Romney's Mormonism deterred a fair number evangelicals from backing him.
Filed Under: evangelicals, Mitt Romney, Mormonism
posted by Dan Gilgoff @ 2:46pm Permalink Email This Add to:
Tuesday February 19, 2008
The Mormon Factor Overstated?
Over at Hot Air, Bryan has posted a rebuttal to God-o-Meter's USA Today op-ed arguing that the Christian Right helped nominate archenemy John McCain by refusing to discuss the Mormonism of the movement's favored candidate. Bryan argues that GOM and...Filed Under: Christian Right, Hot Air, James Dobson, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Mormonism
posted by Dan Gilgoff @ 2:00pm Permalink Email This Add to:
Monday February 18, 2008
The Christian Right Nominated McCain
God-o-Meter has an op-ed in USA Today arguing that the Christian Right helped secure the GOP nomination for its archenemy, John McCain, by neglecting to have a public discussion about the Mormonism of its favored candidate, Mitt Romney. Check it...Filed Under: Christian Right, James Dobson, John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Mormonism, USA Today
posted by Dan Gilgoff @ 9:22am Permalink Email This Add to:
Tuesday February 12, 2008
A Romneyite Critiques Romney
God-o-Meter promises to let go of Mitt Romney soon, but please indulge it another post or two. GOM caught up yesterday with Matthew Spalding, a scholar at the conservative Heritage Foundation who did some advising and speechwriting for Romney—not connected...Filed Under: Heritage Foundation, Matthew Spalding, Mitt Romney, Mormonism
posted by Dan Gilgoff @ 3:48pm Permalink Email This Add to:
Friday February 8, 2008
Evangelical Against Huck
After Mitt Romney announced his withdrawal from the race yesterday, God-o-Meter phoned Mark DeMoss, a prominent evangelical PR man and Romney backer who spent most of January traveling with the Romney campaign to various primary states. Like others on the...Filed Under: casting stones, evangelicals, Mark DeMoss, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Mormonism
posted by Dan Gilgoff @ 3:12pm Permalink Email This Add to:
Friday February 8, 2008
The Mormon Factor: a Romneyesque View
Gary Marx, the conservative coalitions director for Mitt Romney, spearheaded the campaign’s outreach to the conservative Christian community. After Romney withdrew from the race yesterday, God-o-Meter asked Marx how big the so-called Mormon factor was in stopping Romney candidacy: It...Filed Under: casting stones, evangelical, Gary Marx, Mitt Romney, Mormonism
posted by Dan Gilgoff @ 9:25am Permalink Email This Add to:
Thursday February 7, 2008
The Mormon Factor
Was Mitt Romney’s Mormonism a factor in the failure of his candidacy? Definitely. Was it the factor? That's less clear. For all his fundraising success, organizational superiority, and obvious qualifications, Romney was beset with a number of big hurdles throughout...Filed Under: casting stones, Mitt Romney, Mormonism
posted by Dan Gilgoff @ 2:55pm Permalink Email This Add to:
Thursday February 7, 2008
Going Out Like a Culture Warrior
In announcing he's suspending his candidacy, Mitt Romney sounded every bit the Focus on the Family spokesman that he he's sounded like throughout his campaign: ....Perhaps the most fundamental of these is the attack on the American culture. Over the...Filed Under: casting stones, culture war, Mitt Romney
posted by Dan Gilgoff @ 1:04pm Permalink Email This Add to:
Wednesday February 6, 2008
Dobson Backs Huck and Romney
Tuesday February 5, 2008
Dobson for Romney?
Monday February 4, 2008
Santorum Calls for Romney
Friday February 1, 2008
Opening Up on Mormonism?
The Santorum Endorsement
Thursday January 31, 2008
Huck: Mitt's Evangelical Spoilier
Tuesday January 29, 2008
Romney's Evangelical Failure?
Monday January 28, 2008
Former Christian Coalition Chief Backs Romney
Filed Under: casting stones, Christian Coalition, Christian Right, endorsement, evangelicals, Mitt Romney, Randy Tate
Romney vs. Dobson. Both Sides Win.
Filed Under: casting stones, evangelicals, Focus on the Family, James Dobson, Mitt Romney, Mormonism
Romney Camp: Dobson's Group Wrong on Mormonism
Thursday January 24, 2008
In Fla., Major Christian Right Gets for Mitt
Wednesday January 23, 2008
Try Him Again for the First Time
Saturday January 19, 2008
Romney's Off-the-Charts Mormon Support in Nevada
Tuesday January 15, 2008
Winning Michigan, Romney Also Wins Evangelicals
Monday January 14, 2008
Romney's Big Michigan Christian Right Endorsement
Filed Under: casting stones, Catholic, Christian Right, John McCain, Marlene Elwell, Michigan, Mitt Romney
Friday January 11, 2008
Do Romney's Elite Christian Endorsements Matter?
Thursday January 10, 2008
Romney Counts on Michigan Evangelicals
Monday January 7, 2008
Is Romney Still Dogged by Mormon Questions?
Saturday January 5, 2008
Team Romney: Huck's Iowa Evangelical Surge an Anomaly
Filed Under: casting stones, evangelicals, Iowa, Michigan, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, South Carolina
Romney: 'Had I been a Baptist Minister...'
Thursday January 3, 2008
Huck Wins Evangelicals Over Romney 2-to-1
Romney Slammed by Christian Right Coalition
Attacking Huckabee's 'Christian Test' from the Right
Tuesday January 1, 2008
Romney Lands Big Christian Right Endorsement
Friday December 28, 2007
Romney's Latest Evangelical Endorsement
Wednesday December 19, 2007
Another Evanglical Discusses his pro-Romney Ad
Romney's Planned Parenthood Visit
Can Mormons Give Romney an Edge in Iowa?
Tuesday December 18, 2007
Romney Taps Top Evangelicals for New Ads
Saturday December 15, 2007
Bork Backs Romney
Friday December 14, 2007
Some in Romney Camp Question Huck's Apology
Wednesday December 12, 2007
Romney: Attacking My Religion Goes 'Too Far'
Tuesday December 11, 2007
Romney and Faith-Based Affirmative Action
Monday December 10, 2007
Is Romney a Bigot?
Dobson Phones Romney; Robertson Emails
Friday December 7, 2007
If You Haven't Seen Romney's Speech Yet...
James Dobson Praises Romney Speech
Thursday December 6, 2007
A Leading Evangelical on Romney Speech
Family Research Council Applauds Romney Speech
How'd He Do? Early Romney Reaction
Romney's Speech: The Key Excerpt
Wednesday December 5, 2007
Has Romney Blurred Lines on Mormonism/Evangelicalism?
About that Mormon speech...
Tuesday December 4, 2007
Is it a "Mormon Speech" after all?
Romney: Not Channeling JFK
Monday December 3, 2007
A Vote for Huckabee is a Vote for Rudy?
Filed Under: casting stones, evangelicals, James Bopp Jr. Iowa, Mike Huckabee, Mormonism, Romney, Rudy Giuliani
What Will Romney Say? What Should He Say?
Sunday December 2, 2007
Romney to Deliver Religion Speech
Friday November 30, 2007
New Ad Hits Romney on Abortion
Romney, Mormons, and the Bible
Thursday November 29, 2007
Romney Team Delays "Mormon Speech"
Wednesday November 28, 2007
Orrin Hatch Urges Romney's Mormon Speech
Romney Talks "Judeo-Christian Tradition"
Romney's Mormonism Benefiting Huck
Filed Under: casting stones, evangelical, Iowa, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Mormonism, polls, Republican
Tuesday November 27, 2007
Romney: No Muslims in Cabinet
Monday November 26, 2007
Romney: Giuliani and Hillary Share Values
Tuesday November 20, 2007
Romney Struggles Over Abortion Switcheroo
Romney Again: No Mormon Speech (For Now)
Monday November 19, 2007
Romney's Unveils Another "Pro-Family" Ad
Sunday November 18, 2007
Romney Responds to Anti-Mormon Calls
Friday November 16, 2007
Romney Subject to Anti-Mormon Push Polls
Paul Weyrich Editorializes for Romney
Wednesday November 14, 2007
Romney Ponders JFK Redux
Monday November 12, 2007
Romney: No ‘Mormon Speech’—For now
Monday November 5, 2007
Romney Scores a Big Endorsement
Filed Under: endorsement, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Moral Majority, Paul Weyrich, presidency, religious right, Republican
Friday November 2, 2007
Romney the 'only one' for evangelicals?
Thursday November 1, 2007
New Romney Advisor Urges "Mormon Speech"
Tuesday October 30, 2007
More Mormon Advice for Romney
Thursday October 25, 2007
Romney Loses Evangelical Backer
Tuesday October 23, 2007
Romney's Mormon Catch-22
Monday October 22, 2007
Mitt Dodges Mormon Questions. Again.
Friday October 19, 2007
Romney a Hit at Values Voter Summit
Thursday October 18, 2007
Another Evangelical Not Against Mitt
Filed Under: Albert Mohler, Bob Jones III, casting stones, Dan Gilgoff, evangelical, Joel Osteen, Mark DeMoss, Republican, Romney
Wednesday October 17, 2007
Bob Jones III backs Romney
Thursday October 11, 2007
Evangelical Publicist Flacks Romney
Wednesday October 10, 2007
Key Christian Right Leader Bullish on Romney
Friday October 5, 2007
Romney's Mormon Speech is Written (May Need Editing)
Wednesday October 3, 2007
Romney Gets No Love From Protestant Churchgoers
Tuesday September 18, 2007
Romney releases anti-gay marriage ad in Iowa
Wednesday September 12, 2007
Romney pays Mormon magazine to reach its readers
Thursday August 30, 2007
Romney slams Iowa judge for overturning state gay marriage ban
Wednesday August 29, 2007
Romney calls goal of a federal abortion ban “aspirational”
Tuesday August 28, 2007
Politico: Romney throws Craig under bus
About God-o-Meter
The God-o-Meter® (pronounced Gah-DOM-meter) scientifically measures factors such as rate of God-talk, effectiveness—saying God wants a capital gains tax cut doesn't guarantee a high rating—and other top-secret criteria (Actually, the adjustment criteria are here). Click a candidate's head to get his or her latest God-o-Meter reading and blog post. And check back often. With so much happening on the campaign trail, God-o-Meter is constantly recalibrating!
God-o-Meter® blogger Dan Gilgoff is Beliefnet's Politics Editor. A former political correspondent for U.S. News & World Report, he is author of The Jesus Machine: How James Dobson, Focus on the Family, and Evangelical America are Winning the Culture War.
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