Obama and Romney focus on religious groups' votes

Our take: Mitt Romney's Mormonism has been making headlines, but Latter-day Saints aren't the only religious group being brought into the spotlight by the presidential race. This article by The Christian Science Monitor's Brad Knickerbocker rounds up coverage of Romney's faith but also looks at how Romney and Obama are fairing among Roman Catholics, Jews and Evangelical Christians.

Separation of church and state may be a constitutional requirement in US government. But in Election 2012 politics, religion has become an increasingly important factor.

Both President Obama and Mitt Romney are focusing on particular religious groups — Roman Catholic, Jewish, and evangelical Christians. Mr. Romney's religion — Mormonism — is being covered by the media like never before in US political history. (At least since the sect moved to Utah in the 19th century in order to practice its own beliefs — including, at that time, polygamy.)

Off to the side, meanwhile, is an apparent spat between the two most prominent Mormon politicians — Romney and Senate majority leader Harry Reid — that seems to bear on their religion's theology.

Read more about the candidates' focus on religious groups on The Christian Science Monitor.