Mormons and the Mainstream

Here's a very insightful article from The American Conservative magazine discussing how the religious right is finding the grassroots organization and fundraising capabilities of members of the Church of Jesus Christ more attractive. It cites Mormon support of California's Proposition 8 that defines marriage between a man and a woman.

After Prop 8, evangelical opinion leaders exhorted their audiences to stop worrying and learn to love the Latter Day Saints. John Mark Reynolds, a professor at evangelical Biola University wrote, “In the battle for the family…… traditional Christians have no better friends than the Mormon faithful.” A petition to thank the LDS church for its participation in the Prop 8 campaign circulated on conservative websites, and James Dobson signed it. Presbyterian writer John Schroeder said, “We Evangelicals must thank our Mormon cousins. …… They, along with our Catholic brethren, were better organized than us and that provided a base from which we could all work together to get this job done.”

Is this a continuing trend or a flash in the pan? Time will tell--but a lot can happen in the space of just a few years.

Romney News Roundup

Nothing spectacular or profound here. But as I was skimming today's Mitt Romney headlines, a recurring theme popped up:

Romney, Giuliani a hit with SC GOP

Mid-Michigan donors generous to Romney

Romney, Edwards Lead 2008 Fundraising In Tennessee

Romney Woos Tech Executives

Mitt Romney Helps Tap New Donors

Romney, Hillary Lead in Nevada Fundraising

Romney gets new donors from Mormons, business

Romney raises over half (m) million dollars in Arizona

And that's just a few of them.

It appears that the negative spin from the media that Romney has to endure isn't affecting his ability to find supporters enthusiastic enough to commit their pocketbook to the cause.

And momentum continues to build.

Two More to the Romney Roster

Just a quick post to note two more figures joining the Romney campaign. First, Cincinnati's S. Craig Lindner, co-president of American Financial Group and CEO of Great American Financial Resources, will serve as Romney's Ohio fundraising co-chair. The significance? From the article:

Locking down the Lindners is a pretty big score for the Romney campaign, since there are untold numbers of other corporate-types in this part of the world who generally follow the Lindner family's lead when it comes to campaign contributions. …The support of Cincinnati's Lindner family…can draw millions in campaign contributions.

Second is Former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez of Colorado. In a mass-email, Beauprez said:

"We have had the opportunity to learn a great deal about Mitt and we are impressed by what he has achieved - as a husband and father, as a successful businessman, and as the Governor of Massachusetts who brought conservative governing principles to a state famous for its liberal tendencies."

These endorsements are all the more timely and valuable during the run-up to the "invisible primaries," the March 31 deadline for campaigns to disclose their financial status. It is then that we will get a feeling for the long-term viability of all the candidates, making it a crucial milestone on the trek to the White House.

It still looks like Mitt is doing everything right in the networking department. Keep it up!