From Deseret News archives:

Mormons in Congress not flocking to Romney's side

4 of 16 have endorsed him in presidential race

Published: Wednesday, July 18, 2007 12:12 a.m. MDT
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Hatch, who ran for president himself in 2000, formally endorsed Romney in March.

On the House side, Utah's two Republican representatives, Chris Cannon and Rob Bishop, have not come out in favor of anyone for the 2008 race yet.

"I am focused on electing Republicans to the House and retaking the majority," Cannon said. "I'm not convinced that my endorsement of Mitt Romney or any other candidate is going to have much influence on the outcome. I am not Oprah or Rush Limbaugh. We have a number of great candidates on the Republican side, and my overriding concern about the presidential race is that I don't have to teach my kids how to say 'President Clinton' again."

Bishop joked as well, saying, "It should be a felony to discuss a presidential campaign this far from the election."

"I'm not backing anyone," Bishop said. "It's just too early."

Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, R-Calif., and Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, are on the list of the LDS House members supporting Romney.

But Rep. Wally Herger, R-Calif., and Rep. John Doolittle, R-Calif., have not endorsed anyone yet, according to their offices. Calls to the office of freshman Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., were not returned.

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Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., another Mormon for McCain, comes from that presidential hopeful's home state and has worked with the senator on immigration reform and other issues, according to his office. He has supported McCain from the beginning.

There are non-LDS members in Congress on the record as endorsing Romney: Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., and Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., as well as 19 other House members, including former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.


E-mail: suzanne@desnews.com

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