Presidential hopeful and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney said faith is important to him, but voters should look at a person's entire character when choosing a president and not focus on just one area.

Romney made his comments Thursday night on CNN during an interview with Larry King.

A phone poll for King's TV show found that 63 percent of respondents believe religion should matter when considering a presidential candidate.

"People can look at whatever they like," Romney said of those who seem to focus mainly on his LDS faith. If elected, Romney would become the first president who is LDS.

But he believes voters will use every piece of information available to them, not just a candidate's religion, in making their decision. Once the public gets to know him, Romney believes that even though his religion's theology may be different from other religions, his overall morals are what America wants.

"I have a better marriage because of my faith. My children are better because of my faith. I'm a better person because of my faith," he said. "I think the American public would like to have a person of faith lead the country."

One way to make America stronger, he said, is through the strengthening of families.

Romney told King that "every singe person is a child of God," and that Americans who see people suffering in another country feel sorrow for them like they would for someone who lives next door.

"We don't make a distinction on the brand of faith," he said.

Romney joked that his run for governor in Massachusetts was made more difficult by his being a conservative Republican than by being a Mormon.

On other topics, Romney said he supported President Bush's decision to send more troops to Iraq to avoid civil war but doesn't want to keep them there any longer than necessary.

"The decision we find ourself in is part of our own making. But we don't say, 'We made a mistake, time to get out,"' he said.

Romney also reaffirmed he was anti-abortion but supports stem cell research. He hopes, however, that stem cell research will not be the first and only avenues scientists use in finding cures for diseases.

As for gays in the military, Romney said the government needed to show tolerance and respect for people with alternative lifestyles. He did not endorse gay marriage, however.

"Marriage is about the development and nurturing of children, and children deserve a mom and a dad," he said.

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