"Their first sense is, it's sort of plug your nose and vote for the Mormon. But then as people start getting to know him, they think he's a good guy," Blonquist said. "I think a win in South Carolina would definitively silence the religion issue."

Although Romney has done well in straw polls at political gatherings throughout South Carolina, his campaign has already spent money on television commercials to help increase his name recognition.

"He's still not as well-known as the other candidates," Romney spokeswoman Gail Gitcho said. "He's certainly the one to bring the real conservative change to Washington. ... I think that's what voters see when he's in these forums."

Especially since the debate is being sponsored by Fox News, widely seen as the most conservative cable news network.

Gitcho said Romney is ready for any questions about his faith.

"It's Fox. I wouldn't be surprised about it because they do cover it a lot," she said of Romney's Mormonism. "He has been asked the Mormon question just about everywhere he goes. ... He's certainly not a stranger to that issue."

Romney is attempting to use the attention from tonight's debate to rally 24,000 new supporters in 24 hours through some 800 parties nationwide during the event as well as 50 "call centers," on Wednesday.

One of Romney's five sons, Josh, will be among the Utahns hosting debate gatherings. Josh Romney will also be at one of three call center events in Utah, at Sandy's South Towne Expo Center.

Other call centers, where Romney backers are being asked to gather and make calls to their friends for contributions and commitments to volunteer, are in St. George and Provo. Information is available at the Romney Web site, www.mittromney.com.

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