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Time investigates Romney’s faith as election advantage

Posted at 7:30 PM, Oct 05, 2012
and last updated 2012-10-06 00:16:17-04

Mitt Romney is once on the cover of Time Magazine. The issue just hit newsstands, focusing on his Mormon faith and how it plays into his values and views on America. 

The cover shows him in stained glass with the angel Moroni above his head. The five-page article by journalist Jon Mecham delves into Mormon history, the culture surrounding the LDS religion and how Romney’s character has been shaped by his faith. 

As the article says observers see Romney as “the optimistic salesman” with “blindingly pure family values and a can-do spirit.” 

Romney’s Mormon beliefs also play into his view that America has a special greatness or is exalted over other countries in the world.

Romney supporter Kirk Jowers, who is also with the Hinckley Institute of Politics, said, “that’s probably fair. His book is called ‘No Apology: The Case for American Greatness’.  I think he certainly sees America if not ‘the’ great country, a great country that has great responsibility to lift the entire world in how it proclaims liberty and freedom abroad.”

Romney doesn’t apologize for his faith. Utah political analysts say many Americans remain curious to know more about his religion but more voters, including evangelicals, are tolerant of Romney’s Mormon faith.

“Religion was a factor for many Republican delegates. As many as 20 percent identified themselves as evangelicals,” said Tim Chambless with the Hinckley Institute of Politics.” “They would perceive that someone who’s LDS isn’t a true Christian. That figure has dropped from 18 percent to less than 10 percent in terms of religious identity.”

Chambless believes Romney’s bigger concern is his disconnect with the middle class -- the perception that he’s very rich and therefore insensitive to the poor.