Some state polls and anecdotal evidence suggest resistance to Romney, 60, because of his Mormonism among voters who regard themselves as conservative Christians. While he has been a frontrunner in Iowa and New Hampshire, the states holding the first contests in the nomination race, he runs well behind other candidates in national polls.

The concerns about his religion during the campaign prompted Romney to reverse his earlier refusal to address questions about his faith to give a speech Dec. 6 in Texas.

In it, he made reference to the speech John F. Kennedy gave during the 1960 presidential campaign to Protestant Baptist leaders who were suspicious about Kennedy's Catholicism. Romney promised that he "will put no doctrine of any church above the plain duties of the office and the sovereign authority of the law." He declined to outline or explain specific doctrines of the church and mentioned the word Mormon only once.

Spurring Enthusiasm

For some Mormons, the chance to see one of their own as the next president generates enthusiasm like that in the Jewish community when Senator Joseph Lieberman ran for vice president on the 2000 Democratic ticket. Both groups have a history of being persecuted because of their religious beliefs.

"There is a fervor among Mormons for a serious Mormon candidate," said Representative Chris Cannon, a Utah Republican and member of the LDS church who has endorsed Romney. "Many Mormons believe this will be good for people to understand who Mormons are."

Mormon supporters of Romney cite his record in business and government and his positions on issues as the main reason for climbing aboard his bandwagon. His religion seals the deal.

Heather Johnson, a bookkeeper who lives near Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was pregnant with her fourth child when she first met Romney at a Tennessee rally. When her child was born in September, she got a phone call from her candidate. She runs the Moms4Mitt Web site, and said the fact she and Romney share the same religion means they also share the same values.

"I know what his value system is," the former Salt Lake City resident said. Church leaders "have told us we should seek out one of our own and offer them up to the community for community service. I feel that we've doing what we've been told to do."