Meet Mitt. He's Mormon.

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Mega-Media Trends

(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Yesterday, Mitt Romney formally announced his candidacy for president. All three nightly newscasts covered the announcement, but not at the top of the show: Romney was the sixth story on ABC's "World News Tonight" and the ninth on the "Evening News" and NBC "Nightly News."

Romney has long been talked about as a legitimate presidential candidate, but he has not gotten the media attention that some of the other frontrunners have. (Newsbusters complains that Romney's announcement got 1/54th as much coverage on the "Early Show" that Barack Obama's did.) Romney isn't quite polling at Obama levels, and he's still far behind Republican candidates Rudy Giuliani and John McCain. But he is a top-tear candidate with good fundraising prospects and a "great chance to be the nominee," according to Hotline editor Chuck Todd.

Romney's primary problem, at this early stage in the campaign, is that a lot of Americans don't know who he is. And if they do, there's a good chance that they know him mainly for one thing: his religion. The press corps has jumped all over Romney's Mormonism – it was the focus of Gloria Borger's "Evening News" piece on Romney's announcement last night, as well as the subject of numerous stories in major newspapers.

Is the focus on Romney's religion fair? In a CBS News poll, 27 percent of those surveyed said they wouldn't vote for a Mormon Republican presidential candidate. So Romney's faith is certainly a legitimate issue. But an earlier CBS News poll showed that a similar, if slightly smaller, percentage of the population said they wouldn't vote for a female or African-American candidate either. And while reporters have certainly discussed Hillary Clinton's sex and Obama's race, they have also looked at other angles when covering those candidates.

Coverage of Obama, for example, tends to get into his rapid rise, his past indiscretions, and his inexperience, while Clinton coverage often focuses on her position on the Iraq war. Romney has an interesting back story – he's a Republican who had political success in Massachusetts, and he has been credited with rescuing the Salt Lake City Olympics – but his Mormonism has largely been the focus of stories about his candidacy. And if that doesn't change, it may end up defining it.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by azbrower February 16, 2007 3:26 AM EST: As Mitt Romney opens the curtain, & steps out further into the spotlight of the political stage of presidential hopefuls, he will encounter many hecklers from American audiences taunting him about his religion. Many Americans only know bits & pieces of his religion, usually only regurgitated info heard from a biased clergyman, a disgruntled ex-Mormons, or a very bigoted media. Many Americans have a Mormon neighbor, work associate, classmate or friend. A majority of Mormon associates you may encounter are clean-cut, hard working, & friendly. Mitt will encounter many critics, friend or foe, asking about his religion. Most Americans want to know the personal side of a candidate, & how that personal side will shape the next president. Mitt will get questioned about his personal faith, his church, his values, & the like...& these are legitimate questions that most Americans will want to know. But it crosses a line when individuals start ridiculing about things that purely deal with his Church. Such ridicule is posed by bigots & people with obvious agendas. So as Mitt's campaign gets started, those who desire to find out about this candidates need to remember to look at his record, observe his history, & find the fruits of his labor. Make your presidential judgement on that criteria. As you read or listen to this candidate, find his character & fruits in his actions. It's not fair to any candidate to do otherwise. Mitt Romney is a Mormon%u2014the Mormon Church is not Mitt Romney.; Reply to this comment


by ldsaintctr February 15, 2007 8:23 PM EST: Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are some of the most patriotic people I know. Their church was the first major religion established in the United States. Mormons believe that the Constitution was divinely inspired, are encouraged by leaders to be active citizens, and that America was created under God's watchcare.

The problem, in my view, is this: A recent poll in another newspaper says that 39 of voters are not familiar with the Mormon religion. Even Islam was much better understood.

Popular ignorance about himself and his religion is the greatest obstacle facing Romney.; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 February 15, 2007 6:58 PM EST: OK, let%u2019s not dwell on non-essential matters such as race, gender, or religious practices and beliefs. Understood, but now will Romney be able to distinguish himself from the disastrous right wing policies and corruption that have plagued our nation since George W. Bush and the do nothing (except for big business) Congress? What does he represent?

It would appear to me, and it%u2019s early yet (very early) that Romney represents a coat of paint on the same old house.; Reply to this comment


by cityboys99 February 15, 2007 6:14 PM EST: Matt,

Underwear? Romney isn't running to be the next drag queen, but President.

If you're referring to his religious beliefs again, then perhaps its time to move on to something important.

Whether the guy wears long underwear or none at all, it's not important.

Has he ever had multiple wives? No. Like I said, the other republican candidates have had more wives than Mitt the Mormon.

Does he come from one of those polygamous compounds? No. He grew up in Michigan. His Dad was the Governor of Michigan. Mitt went to Harvard and became governor of the most liberal state, Massachusetts.

The question is, can he govern the nation well, and does he have the skills and moral will to lead America?; Reply to this comment


by cityboys99 February 15, 2007 2:29 PM EST: Its not equitable in any regard to use Romney's faith as a "test". Romney is the only republican candidate so far who has only one wife. Romney's wife was in college when they married. Interestingly enough, the other republican candidates however, have multiple wives. Only one at a time though.

It's very strange how conservative christians would even slight Romney's church for their "dance" with polygamy. Evangelical christians in particular claim biblical "Abraham" and his grandson, "Jacob" as their lineal or spiritual fathers, yet they were both polygamists.

Abraham had two wives and Jacob (who later became Israel) had four wives. Go figure.; Reply to this comment


by jasperdundee February 15, 2007 2:26 PM EST: Mattcat 25 is merely being facetious...I'm certain he isn't as dense as he wishes to appear. Fortunately for all of us, truth is independent of one's opinions, wishes, whims and silly biases.; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 February 15, 2007 1:03 PM EST: It's a fair question: Does, or has Mitt Romney ever been involved with a multiple marriage situation?

and, does Mitt Romney were special underware?; Reply to this comment


by dvilt February 15, 2007 2:05 AM EST: As a convert of many years to the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) (nickname "Mormon" Church), I can assure readers their is nothing "dangerous" about Mitt Romney being a "Mormon." He's about as dangerous as an Eagle Scout. Those who say outrageous, hate-filled things about the LDS church are at best uninformed, and likely Un-American, bigoted, and dangerous themselves.
What "dangerous" things happened to Massachusetts while Mitt Romney was govenor because he was Mormon? What "dangerous" things happened to Michigan while his father was governor of that state?

America has a surprisingly high number of Mormon politicians, corporate leaders, sports/entertainment personalities (radio hosts Glen Beck and Lars Larson), higher education leaders (e.g., recent Harvard Business School head), government/military leaders (e.g., Mike Levett, Sec of Health and Human Resources), etc.
Can anti-Mormon writers name ONE active Mormon who did "dangerous" things to America because of his/her religion? If anything, being a "Mormon" is a great indicator that the person--in this case Mitt Romney--will be a hardworking, fair, honest, and effective leader, and a great credit to his position.

On the light side, as a conservative, I agree that Democrat Senate majority Leader Harry Reid is a "danger" to America, but not because he's a Mormon--it's his liberal politics.

DVilt, Major, USAF, Ret.; Reply to this comment


by jonnyrc47 February 15, 2007 1:59 AM EST: These comments are pretty disturbing so far. I do know that polygamy is forbidden in the mormon church and members are excommunicated if involved.

I think it is productive when making a voting decision in an election to look at what each candidate has done and how they react to questions posed to them.

Voter will need to answer those type of questions for themselves: Did Mitt mix religion with his Mass. governorship? Has he made good decisions?; Reply to this comment


by stephenwri February 14, 2007 11:27 PM EST: I am a Mormon or better a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. There is nothing in our religion that is out there for those of you who believe it the Bible. A Bible a Bible we need no more Bible. Well the Book of Mormon is a group of prophets writings that support and clarify the Bible. The unique thing about us LDS is that we also believe in Noah and the Arc, the 12 tribes of Israel, Adam and Eve, the tower of Babel, should I go on. No Mitt is ligit and it is not because of what he believes but what he does and every one should be judged upon merit, not religion, but if you want religion Mitt is a great example of faith in action.; Reply to this comment