"Among the social conservatives, his biggest problem is that he's a Mormon," says Bennett. And the Religious Right may well have a problem with that. (Several very conservative religious groups don't accept The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a Christian faith, classifying it as some kind of cult religion.)

Romney's religion "is talked about a lot" in Washington, D.C., insider politics, said Bennett, who himself is a member of the LDS Church.

But in a recent meeting, former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., who is a Baptist, stated: "What's wrong with being a Mormon" and winning the GOP nomination? "That's just a straw in the wind" opinion expressed by Lott, said Bennett, but perhaps also an observation by an astute political observer.

Some of Romney's assets: "He's handsome, has a full head of hair (Bennett is bald). He's a good speaker; a bright man with a bright image. It's exciting (to Republicans across the nation) that he's governor of Massachusetts" — long a state that has voted for Democrats for president.

"He has a fiscal record that even the Club for Growth can like."

The Club for Growth is a newly active, newly powerful PAC that has funneled millions of dollars into campaign accounts of conservative candidates who support reduced government growth and renewed economic activity.

New Hampshire — site of the first general presidential primary (Iowa has caucuses before New Hampshire) — has no really local TV stations. "New Hampshire gets their TV from Boston — so Romney is very well-known already in New Hampshire."

Of course, like a dozen other GOP hopefuls, Romney is just a blip in the national polls now, says Bennett. "He registers at 1 percent or 2 percent" support.

Only former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain are well-recognized nationally; in some polls seen to beat U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., in head-to-head match-ups.

But 2008 is a long ways away, an eternity in U.S. politics, says Bennett.

"The Republican race (for president) is wide open. A lot can happen."

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Deseret Morning News political editor Bob Bernick Jr. may be reached by e-mail at bbjr@desnews.com