Faleomavaega, who campaigns for re-election partly in Utah because of the large number of American Samoan expatriates living there, is thrilled that a member of the LDS Church is leading Senate Democrats and that maybe he can change the perception that church members are inherently thought of as Republicans.

"Like Senator Reid, I believe the LDS Church needs representation in both the Democratic and Republican parties," he said. "For too long there has been a misconception that LDS Democrats and Republicans do not share the same values. But this is not true. Our values are the same, but our political philosophies are different."

Members of the caucus said political differences should not fall along religious lines. Democrats, they said, support working people and have a difference of opinion from Republicans on health care, education, environment, taxes and international relations.

"However, at the end of the day, whether Democrat or Republican, our LDS values remain the same and this is why the LDS Church, as a matter of official policy, does not support one political party over the other," Faleomavaega said.

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