Gnashing their teeth
Feb 21st 2008 | WASHINGTON, DC
From The Economist print edition
The latter-day saints are angry with the Republicans
"POLYGAMY", the comedian Stephen Colbert quipped, "comes from the
Greek 'poly' meaning multiple and 'gamy', meaning reasons not to vote
for Mitt Romney." Now that the Mormon former governor of Massachusetts
has abandoned the race and endorsed John McCain, will the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints--an important voting-group in several
states--follow his lead?
Utah, the centre of the Mormon universe, preferred George Bush to John
Kerry by 46 points in 2004. But Mormons took a beating during Mr
Romney's run. In a Pew poll from December, a quarter of Americans and
36% of white evangelicals expressed reservations about voting for one.
A study from Vanderbilt University concluded that conservative
Christians cited unrelated concerns about Mr Romney to mask their
discomfort with his faith.
Mormons naturally invested in Mr Romney, donating to his campaign and
voting for him in droves: 90% of Utah Republicans plumped for him.
Half of Mr Romney's supporters in the Nevada caucuses, which he won
convincingly, were from his church.
Mike Huckabee took Iowa and the South, however, areas filled with
evangelicals whom Mr Romney needed to win. "In Utah you could almost
hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth," says Kirk Jowers, head of the
University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics. In a poll taken
just after Mr Romney left the race, only 30% of Utahns said they would
vote for Mr McCain; 25% said they would choose Barack Obama.
Utah's political pundits agree that the conservative state will prefer
Mr McCain. But the margin may be smaller as some Romneyites switch
sides or stay at home. In other Mormon-rich states, particularly
Nevada, which is a swing state, depressed Mormon turnout could hurt Mr
McCain a lot more.
Much depends on the Democratic nominee. Hillary Clinton is reviled; Mr
Obama is not. Much also depends on Mr McCain's eventual running-mate.
Many Mormons believe Mr Huckabee used Mr Romney's faith against him,
as when the former Baptist minister asked a reporter "Don't Mormons
believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?" If Mr Huckabee is on
the Republican ticket, there could be a latter-day revolt.
http://www.truthandgrace.com/mormonpresident.htm
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