Romney and Mormonism

In the video below Romney has an interview on radio in Iowa in which he discusses his Mormon faith off the air with the host, and it gets a little heated. However it is far from being a "meltdown" or even as intense as David Mendell suggested on Meet the Press's "Take Two" earlier this month. Romney does point his finger at the interviewer and exhibit a frustration he would not let himself voice in a public setting. But he articulated himself very well, and more importantly, the interviewer really didn't have a point. He was just jabbing at Romney's soft spot seemingly for the fun of it. He comes across in a much worse light than the candidate he's interviewing. The video does not damage Romney at all in my judgment, and even makes the viewer have a little sympathy for him.

I just don't think that the Mormonism will be the huge factor people think it will. Evangelicals used to hate Catholics, but made common cause with them over the social issues. The same thing will probably happen in this instance between them and Mormons.

The Presidency as an office involves being a spiritual leader of American protestantism, somewhat like being the pope but without the theology being so explicit. Romney is holding in the interview the only position he can hold, namely that his religion is very important to him but his church will not tell him what to do as a secular leader. The bias felt against him as a Mormon by some would have more of an impact if he completely disavowed his faith on the one hand, or remained liberal on social issues on the other.