Jon Huntsman's Reported Presidential Bid Stirs Secular-Religious Pot

Submitted by Anonymous on January 31, 2011 - 9:24am

MEMO TO: Mike Huckabee, et al.

SUBJECT: Mormons running for president

News that Jon Huntsman is planning toleave his post as U.S. ambassador to China to explore a bid for the White House sets up an intriguing prospect: Two Mormons battling for the Republican presidential nomination.

Huntsman, a wealthy industrialist and former Utah governor, and Mitt Romney, a former Massachusetts governor and head of the Salt Lake City Olympic Games, are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

While the country long ago overcame its concerns about Catholics and Jews (note: all nine Supreme Court justices are either Roman Catholics or Jews), the Mormon religion and its adherents remain an enigma and a political talking point.

Romney's Mormonism encountered not-so-subtle criticism from fellow Republican Mike Huckabee and secular progressives during his 2008 bid. The presence of two devout Mormons in the race is sure to get tongues wagging.

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