Romney’s faith could be a problem in GOP primary

If Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney can secure the
nomination, his Mormon faith shouldn't be an obstacle for voters in the
general election, according to a recently re­leased survey.

That
nomination may be a big "if." The survey from the Pew Research Center
shows that white evangelical Protestants—the heart of the GOP primary
electorate—are most likely to know that Romney is a Mormon and least
likely to support him.

That news came as polls showed Newt
Gingrich emerging as Romney's chief rival for the nomination, and as the
focus turned to the Iowa caucuses in early January. The Hawkeye state's
Repub­lican Party is dominated by the kind of conservative Christians
who view Rom­ney's Mormonism with suspicion.