For Mormon Voters, Romney's Faith Is but One Factor
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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- Elizabeth Young, a mother and artist in Las Vegas, likes Mitt Romney's successful record of "turning around companies that have been doing so poorly." Chad Backus, a physical therapist from Winnemucca, Nev., appreciates his "business experience, his leadership experience." And Arwen Spor, a mother of three in Spring Creek, Nev., lived in the Salt Lake City area during the 2002 Olympics, and trusts Mr. Romney because of his role in reviving the struggling games.
But all three voters -- all Mormon Republicans who are supporting Mr. Romney -- also say they feel as if they have a deeper understanding of him and his values because of their shared faith.
In more than a dozen interviews, Mormon voters in Nevada and Colorado said that while a common religion was not a major factor in their support for Mr. Romney, their decision was informed by what they view as a mutual set of values and a strong sense of Mr. Romney's background. And with contests Tuesday in Colorado and later this month in Arizona -- two states where Mormons make up a notable slice of the Republican vote -- Mr. Romney's religion, which is a potential liability in other states, is likely to prove an advantage.
"I try to look at all of the candidates objectively, but it does make it a little easier to trust him," Ms. Spor said. "It puts us in the spotlight. When someone is in the spotlight, people ask a lot of questions, and it gives a chance to show that we're not strange. We're Christians like anybody else."
Mr. Romney's religion, which last year was called "a cult" by a Texas pastor supporting a rival candidate, is a delicate topic for his aides, who were hesitant to discuss any outreach he was doing to Mormon voters. On the night of the Nevada caucuses, Eric Fehrnstrom, one of Mr. Romney's top advisers, even sent out a Twitter message that seemed geared to minimize the importance of the Mormon vote and to highlight what he suggested was a broad-based victory.
"Mormons make up one-quarter of Nevada caucus voters. Take them out of picture and Romney still wins the state decisively," read Mr. Fehrnstrom's Twitter post.
But for Mr. Romney, who won 88 percent of the Mormon vote in Nevada and consistently got about 9 in 10 of the Mormon votes during the 2008 campaign, there is no denying that his Mormon support provides a base of loyal voters who can be tapped during the nominating contests and in a general election, particularly with Nevada and Arizona likely to be in play as swing states this fall.
First Published February 7, 2012 12:00 am
