This morning on KUT, we reported on the role evangelicals would play in the 2012 election, specifically the GOP primary. Part of the story focused on the tenuous relationship between the religions right and on-again-off-again Republican front-runner Mitt Romney.
Meanwhile, a new poll out today from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life puts a number on why some evangelicals aren't supporting the Romney campaign.
Pew's research shows more than half of white evangelicals polled do not believe the Mormon religion is Christian.
Among all Republican and Republican-leaning voters, Romney leads the field. Among just white evangelical voters, he drops to third place.
But Romney still beats Governor Rick Perry 17 percent to 12 percent among evangelicals, a troubling sign for Perry's campaign, given that Christian conservatives supposedly account for his base of support.
If Romney were able to win the nomination, all would be forgiven. Ninety-one percent of evangelicals said they would vote for Romney over President Obama.
Here's a rundown of where the candidates stand among different conservative religious groups:
All Rep/Lean Rep
Mitt Romney 23
Herman Cain 22
Newt Gingrich 16
Ron Paul 8
Rick Perry 8
Michele Bachmann 5
Rick Santorum 2
Jon Huntsman 1
Don't Know 14
White Evangelicals
Mitt Romney 17
Herman Cain 26
Newt Gingrich 19
Ron Paul 7
Rick Perry 12
Michele Bachmann 5
Rick Santorum 3
Jon Huntsman 1
Don’t Know 10
White Catholics
Mitt Romney 26
Herman Cain 23
Newt Gingrich 19
Ron Pau 8
Rick Perry 5
Michele Bachmann 4
Rick Santorum 2
Jon Huntsman 0
Don’t Know 14
