They have crossed swords over immigration, the economy and social
security, but this weekend the leading candidates for the Republican
presidential nomination clashed on religion, after the pastor of
one of America's largest evangelical mega-churches challenged
frontrunner Mitt Romney's Mormonism.
Robert Jeffress was unrepentant on Sunday after portraying Mormonism as a cult and urging Republicans to vote instead for "a Christian candidate". Jeffress is a close ally of Romney's main rival, Rick Perry, the governor of Texas.
Religion was always going to play a part in the Republican nominations for a presidential candidate to take on Barack Obama for the White
Robert Jeffress was unrepentant on Sunday after portraying Mormonism as a cult and urging Republicans to vote instead for "a Christian candidate". Jeffress is a close ally of Romney's main rival, Rick Perry, the governor of Texas.
Religion was always going to play a part in the Republican nominations for a presidential candidate to take on Barack Obama for the White
House
in November next year. But Jeffress has pushed the issue to the fore
earlier than expected, with the first of the Republican nomination
caucuses not scheduled until January 3 in Iowa.
The faith row
overshadowed a right-wing conference in Washington DC at the
weekend in which all the Republican candidates spoke, as well as
Jeffress. Issues such as the faltering economy, immigration and
abortion were
drowned out by discussion of Romney's faith.
The
main beneficiary of the row could be Perry, who once said that
anyone who does not believe in Jesus will go to hell. He and Jeffress
organised a day of prayer in Houston, Texas, in August that attracted about 30,000 people.Perry jumped to the top of the Republican polls after joining the race in August, but he slumped after two poor debate performances and he needs a fillip.
Christian evangelicals make up an estimated 40% to 60% of Republicans likely to vote in states such as Iowa and South Carolina, which is scheduled to hold its primary on 21 January. A Washington Post poll in June found that 21% of Republican-leaning voters nationwide would be less likely to vote for a Mormon.
In
the 2008 Republican presidential race, the then candidate Mike
Huckabee played the religion card, saying "Don't Mormons believe that
Jesus and the devil are brothers?" He went on to beat Romney in Iowa,
in spite of a huge investment of money and resources by Romney in the
state.
Perry's campaign team, distancing itself in public from Jeffress, said the Texas governor did not regard Mormonism as a cult and did not judge people's religion. "That is God's job," his campaign spokesman said.
Other presidential candidates were outspoken about Jeffress. Newt Gingrich, the former House Speaker, told CBS on Sunday that no-one should judge another's religion. "I thought it was very unwise and very inappropriate," Gingrich said.
Perry's campaign team, distancing itself in public from Jeffress, said the Texas governor did not regard Mormonism as a cult and did not judge people's religion. "That is God's job," his campaign spokesman said.
Other presidential candidates were outspoken about Jeffress. Newt Gingrich, the former House Speaker, told CBS on Sunday that no-one should judge another's religion. "I thought it was very unwise and very inappropriate," Gingrich said.
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