Republican
presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, courting conservatives,
found himself answering questions in Des Moines Saturday
about the role his Mormon faith would play should he
win the race.
Romney told one
questioner ''we have exactly the same values'' and said
there is no religious litmus test for candidates. The former
Massachusetts governor dismissed suggestions of a conflict
between his religion and his ability to govern. He
also hastened to offer assurances of his faith.
''The Bible for
me is the word of God,'' Romney said. ''I also believe
that Jesus Christ is my savior.''
The questions
arose as Romney prepared to join five other Republican
candidates for the 2008 election at a forum sponsored by two
of the most important forces in Iowa Republican
politics--the Iowa Christian Alliance and Iowans
for Tax Relief.
This Midwestern
state plays an important role in the presidential
campaign because it holds one of the earliest primaries.
Many conservative
Christians are quietly nervous about Romney's religion
and the issue surfaced as Romney opened his campaigning at a
forum in Pella, about 40 miles southeast of Des
Moines. Romney is bidding to be the first Mormon
elected president of the United States.
Mary Van Steenis
asked Romney how he would ponder important decisions as
president and which source of inspiration he would seek.
''Where would the
Bible be in that process?'' she asked. ''Would it be
above the Book of Mormon or would it be beneath it?''
''I don't know
that there's any conflict at all between the values of
great faiths like mine, like yours, like other faiths, like
Jews who don't believe in the New Testament,'' Romney
said.
''People of faith
have different doctrines and different beliefs on
various topics of a theological nature. But in terms of what
it is we are going to believe and also based on our
values for our country, I think we come from the same
place,'' Romney said.
The answer did
not satisfy Van Steenis.
''I asked if you
had to look to one source what would it be? He didn't
really respond to that,'' she told reporters after the
event. ''This is serious to me.''
Romney said he
thinks that as people ''look at me and my values and look
at my family and myself they'll recognize that we have
exactly the same values. This is a nation where people
come from different faiths, different doctrines, and
different churches.''
Romney aide Eric
Fehrnstrom quickly issued a statement to reporters that
said Romney took the oath of office as Massachusetts
governor on his family Bible.
''He swore to
follow the constitution and uphold the laws of the land,''
said Fehrnstrom. ''That would continue to be his highest
duty as president.''
Romney and his
rivals paraded before about 750 conservative activists,
criticizing abortion rights and same-sex marriage and
talking tough about building a fence along the border
with Mexico. All pledged to cut taxes and shrink
government.
Romney got polite
applause as he vowed to push conservative themes.
''It is essential
that we have a Republican president who is pro-life and
pro-family,'' he said.
The loudest
cheers went to conservative congressman Tom Tancredo, who
spoke out against illegal immigration. ''If you want to call
me a single-issue candidate, that's fine as long as
you know my issue is the survival of this country,''
he said.
Meeting with
reporters, Romney said the question about his faith was
fair.
''I don't know
whether I'll give an address on this or not--I may
well,'' said Romney. ''A couple of campaigns have
raised this issue, and that may lead me to give an
address at some point.''
Some of Romney's
critics say he has shifted his views on positions such
as abortion and gay rights as he moves from governor of a
liberal Democratic-leaning state to presidential
contender.
Romney sought to
assure Republican activists of his hard-line views. He
said the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized
abortion in 1973 should be overturned and states
should be allowed to decide the issue.
He also said he
fought an overwhelmingly Democratic state legislature in
Boston by pushing for the death penalty during his time in
office.
Romney and his
rivals--minus top-tier candidates Rudy Giuliani and
John McCain--were scheduled to appear at the
forum. Joining Romney were Tommy Thompson, Mike
Huckabee, Sam Brownback, Tom Tancredo, and Jim Gilmore.
(Mike Glover, AP)