Dec 6, 2007 8:35 pm US/Eastern
N.H. Voters Consider Candidate, Not Religion
(WBZ)
In New Hampshire, many voters told WBZ they didn't think that Mitt Romney had to make a speech on his religion, as the Mormon presidential candidate did.
His religion speech was targeting evangelicals in the early voting states of Iowa and South Carolina.
But the speech will likely have an impact in New Hampshire in another way -- to address the issue of just who Mitt Romney is and what he stands for.
"I do not define my candidacy by my religion. A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith," Romney said in his speech.
For Romney, this could be the speech of his campaign, addressing his Mormon religion and faith.
"Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or of any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions," he said. "Their authority is theirs, within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin."
"Part of what Gov. Romney is saying is there's a place for faith in public life, but it doesn't govern his actions," said N.H. Republican Party Chair Fergus Cullen.
Cullen says only 20 percent of Republicans in N.H. call themselves religious conservatives, and the Mormon issue has not been a big concern in the state.
"I think people are more interested in seeing a candidate who is of faith," Cullen said. "The particulars of their faith are less important."
"It's not what his religion is, but how he feels about it and how he acts about it," said Republican Ellen Labrie.
"It plays a role in my personal life but not in my vote," said one voter.
"I feel that religion has no place in politics," another voter said.
"I worry that when candidates are running on a platform of faith, and they're standing up discussing their faith openly, that that's going to influence their decision," said Republican Jim Kerrigan.
To sum up how N.H. voters feel: it's about the man, not the religion.
The Romney campaign said they are extremely pleased with the speech and that Romney himself feels personally very strongly about how it went.
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