S.C. Evangelicals Warming Up To Romney

Some Born-Again Christians Put Religious Differences Aside To Back Mormon GOP Hopeful

(AP)  Mitt Romney's presidential campaign has been embraced in a most unlikely place: at Bob Jones University, the influential Christian college that teaches that his Mormon church is a cult.

In early-voting South Carolina, Romney has picked up support among the evangelicals and social conservatives who are a political force.

Last week, Romney won the endorsements of Bob Jones III and Robert Taylor, the founder's grandson and a top dean respectively here at Bob Jones University.

He also gained the backing of Don Wilton, the immediate past president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention and pastor of a nearby megachurch, as well as Dr. John Willke, a founder and past president of the National Right to Life Committee.

During the same one-week period, the former Massachusetts governor eked out a win in a straw poll at the socially conservative Values Voter Summit in Washington.

Taken together, the endorsements and straw poll victory show that while evangelicals may not agree with the tenets of his Mormon faith, or even the standing of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a Christian faith, some have decided to heed Romney's request for support.

They are looking at his apple-cheeked family and clean-living lifestyle and finding comfort in his pledge to support their social philosophy should he become president.

That's an achievement for a candidate who embraced abortion rights as recently as November 2004. He now says he has changed his mind and wants to overturn the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

"It's hard to see, but I think that they just realized that he's the best of a bad lot. I hate to say it that way," said Dave Woodard, a longtime GOP activist and political science professor at Clemson University.

Romney's standing is hardly secure. In fact, Woodard expects that former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, a fellow Southerner, will win the Jan. 19 GOP primary in South Carolina. Thompson, though, has not campaigned here since his announcement tour, nor has he paid a $35,000 fee to appear on the primary ballot. He is expected to do so Wednesday when he returns for his first campaign appearance in more than a month.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a one-time Baptist minister now campaigning for president, has also seen interest among evangelicals deepen since Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas - a conservative darling - dropped out of the race last week.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been near the top in polls of likely South Carolina Republican primary voters.

But Giuliani's standing is shaky among social conservatives who are expected to dominate the vote. Among other things, they disagree with his support for abortion rights and his opposition to a federal ban on gay marriage.

"I think probably his biggest selling point is that he happened to be mayor of New York when 9/11 happened," said Taylor, the Bob Jones University arts and sciences dean who endorsed Romney. "The reaction of the country was pretty unanimous and he just happened to be there."

In endorsing Romney, Taylor said he and Chancellor Bob Jones III looked past their belief that Mormons, as well as Catholics, belong to a "cult." Taylor said among evangelicals, the term more broadly applies to what they consider non-Christian theologies, not the more popular understanding of allegiance to a domineering figurehead.

Jones, who had laryngitis and could not be interviewed by the AP, told the Greenville News: "As a Christian, I am completely opposed to the doctrines of Mormonism. But I'm not voting for a preacher; I'm voting for a president."

Wilton, the pastor in nearby Spartanburg, said in his endorsement: "While we may not agree on theology, Governor Romney and I agree that this election is about our country heading in the right direction."

In exit polls for the 2004 general election, 88 percent of white voters in South Carolina who described themselves as evangelicals or born-again Christians said they voted for President Bush, while only 11 percent voted for Democrat John Kerry.

More recently, data from three recent AP-Ipsos polls showed that among born-again Christians, 22 percent said they'd vote for Thompson, 17 percent for Giuliani and 13 percent for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Romney was at 8 percent, essentially tied with Huckabee, who had 9 percent, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who had 8 percent.

Most of Romney's support, 72 percent, came from self-described conservatives, 21 percent from moderates and only 5 percent from liberals.

Kirk Alford, a 62-year-old former Army Ranger and retired federal court official from Greenville, described himself as a conservative - and pragmatic - voter as he voiced support for Romney.

"To me, the key is we really need to find somebody who can beat Hillary Clinton. I just think Clinton would be a disaster," Alford said.

Kendell Hawkins, a 36-year-old paralegal from Greenville, said she favored Giuliani because of his leadership following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks but was also amenable to Romney despite their religious differences.

"I'm not going to judge somebody's religion, what their personal decisions are," Hawkins said. "If he can make good decisions and lead us and bring us back to be a strong country, then that's all I care about."

[ncoutrage]

I%u2019ve got exciting news about a new presidential candidate. I know for a fact that on November 1st, this new candidate for the President will be making his announcement ON THE INTERNET!!! You will receive information on where to tune in to catch his announcement.

If you''re not happy with any of the current Democrats or Republicans running for office, then this man might be the best thing since sliced bread!

[jacksteen1]

Willard Romney is speaking in treasured Republishit Party doublespeak - just like people with ''rebel'' flags - the stars and bars - advocate the happy times of the Civil War and Slavery. Just like the KKK''s ''klanguage'', which is childish jibberish that even a moron can translate as hate talk.

This is the legacy of Ronald Reagan, the empty headed fool that occupied the White House for eight long years and handed our nation''s governance over to the ''Moral Majority,'' headed by Pat Roberrtson and Jerry Falwell, who famously said 9/11 was visited upon our Nation by God Almighty to punish us for accepting kweers among us.

It has taken us THIS LONG to pry our Nation out of the evangelical''s grip...and the Republishit Party wants us to accept a descendant of Parley P. Pratt, the very ARCHITECT of the plural marriage ''revelation'' in the mormon cult ? A grown man that believes Jesus was a SpaceMan ? Who believes that a super-annuated nonagenarian in Salt Lake City buries his face in his hat and talks with GOD ?!

WHAT WOULD JAYZUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS DO ?!

[mudrose-2009]

Imo vote fer that Romney feller kawws he''''s gawwt a purrty mouff. Yupp uhhh huhhh. Like to spend some time wiff him back behhind the old barn. I''''d give himm a warrm South Carolina welcumm I would. Yupp uhhh huhhh.

Posted by frankly6

Are you a political force or just brut force?

[frankly6]

Imo vote fer that Romney feller kawws he''s gawwt a purrty mouff. Yupp uhhh huhhh. Like to spend some time wiff him back behhind the old barn. I''d give himm a warrm South Carolina welcumm I would. Yupp uhhh huhhh.

[mudrose-2009]

Posted by notmudrose

I''m so flattered! It''s sorta like a mini-me moment. Hahahahaha!

[simonsez40]

Romney - ramknee will never be president - Americans won''t vote for a Mormon. Does the Jeff Warrens scenario cross anyone''s mind? I could care less if he''s a pagan - I don''t want a Repug in the house!

[simonsez40]

Cracking up at the notmudrose - great stuff keep it coming! LOL!

[mustbright]

You go notmudrose! Tell it like is is.

What''s the difference between a southern baptist rightwing evangelical and a nazi? Nothing, they both say sieg heil with a red neck.

[akoeppen]

Romney''s life is the best reason why good people that want our country back will support him. With the exception of Huckabee, no other candidate impresses me like Romney. These two have real integrity.

[mudrose-2009]

Well, why not? IF he can do the job. I mean, we''''ve had both a Quaker and a Catholic in the White House. So, if he can do the job, why not?

I would hope more folks would actually take a look at Duncan Hunter though.
Posted by Hwy71So

Huckabee is doing well also. We really have a nice selection to choose from.

[hwy71so]

Besides, we''re hiring a PRESIDENT, not a preacher.

[hwy71so]

Well, why not? IF he can do the job. I mean, we''ve had both a Quaker and a Catholic in the White House. So, if he can do the job, why not?

I would hope more folks would actually take a look at Duncan Hunter though.

[mh4cbs1]

VOTE Republican!

If you like:

Having been LIED into Iraq

3,800 troops DEAD - used and abused as cannon fodder for the NeoCon Nightmare in Iraq

$500 BILLION wasted on needless War

Osama is free

Massive Tax Cuts for the Filthy Rich, while we work harder for less

Good jobs shipped overseas

$9 TRILLION in National Debt

$200 BILLION for War in Iraq each year, but vetoes of $7 Billion per year to give 10 million American kids health care.

Torture, Gitmo, Abu Gharib, rendition

Warantless Wiretaps

Color Coded "terror alerts" to keep us nice and scared/

Attempts to "Privatize" social security

Oil Corporation subsides, while the planet is getting warmer each year

Laws written by corporate lobbyists

War Profiteers, Haliburton, US funded Blackwater civilian killers (and we pay $1,200 per day for each mercenary soldier of fortune)

Unitary executive power

LIES LIES LIES

Yes, if you are so stupid that you would support a Republican, you deserve to see your country run into the ground.

[micma-2009]

Yasss sirrr that Romney feller sure has a pretty mouth. Uhhh huhhh...yup.

[candide777]

Last week, Romney won the endorsements of Bob Jones III and Robert Taylor, the founder''s grandson and a top dean respectively here at Bob Jones University.

It''s really unfortunate. The republican party once had an important role to play in American politics but now they seem to be totally controlled by greed on the one hand and hateful religious fundamentalist on the other. Have they no decency at all left within their party? If I were Ron Paul, I would be running away from that party. I may not agree with his politics, but at least I respect his integrity. (And no, this is not an endorsement of Ron Paul -- he would be another collasal mistake, and we really can''t afford many more of those.)

[chucktruck2]

Social concerns,a good economy, and peace with strenght ... vs... hate, bigotry, ignorance noncaring,and liars .......let me choose

[sgtrds]

Evangelicals are "warming" up to Mitt because they think he can win. Their personal values mean nothing to them if they think they''re controlling the one in the White House, so in spite of their sanctimonious screaming, they''ll sell their values and vote for political power over their religious beliefs every time.

[presronpaul]

Well, there goes his chances now that the "Christians" are behind him!

[chucktruck2]

"Evangelicals for Mitt" blog ..... to find out for yourself :...He is PROLIFE ,he did change ,... HE is PROMARRIAGE, always between a man and a woman,... He supports civil union rights for ***,he has not changed................If you think Bill is going to be a great FIRST PERSON ..........vote for anybody else and Hillary wins... do the math

[chucktruck2]

hey, ...Mitt''s support is from people of similar social concerns such as:...PROFAMILY,... PROLIFE,...LOVE THY NEIGHBOR ,...CENTRALIST ,...JEWS LIBERALS,...CATHOLICS and just good ol folks .................Mitt'' opposition IGNORANT BIGOTS,...MSM HITPERSONS,...and UNCARING LIARS