---
title: "White Evangelical Views of Mormonism Could Be a Factor for Romney in Primaries"
description: "More than half (53%) of white Evangelical Protestants say the Mormon religion is not a Christian faith. This belief among evangelicals could have implications for Mitt Romney in the contest for the GOP nomination, although it would not likely be a factor in a general election."
date: "2011-11-23"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2011/11/23/white-evangelical-views-of-mormonism-could-be-a-factor-for-romney-in-primaries/"
---

# White Evangelical Views of Mormonism Could Be a Factor for Romney in Primaries

Many Americans continue to see the Mormon faith as unfamiliar and different. In a recent poll, approximately half of those polled said they know little or nothing about Mormonism; another half said that it is a Christian religion, while a third said that it is not. In addition, roughly two-thirds of people believe that Mormonism is “very different” from their own beliefs. These impressions are essentially unchanged over the past four years.

About half of all voters — and 60% of white Evangelical Republicans — know that Mitt Romney is a Mormon. The former Massachusetts governor’s religion has implications for his nomination run but not for the general election, should he be nominated as his party’s standard bearer.

White Evangelical Protestants — a key element of the GOP electoral base — are more inclined than the public as a whole to view Mormonism as a non-Christian faith. More than half (53%) of white Evangelicals share this opinion, compared to 33% of Republicans overall.

Republicans who say Mormonism is not a Christian religion are less likely to support Romney for the GOP nomination and offer a less favorable assessment of him generally. But they seem prepared to overwhelmingly back him in a general election campaign against President Obama. Fully 91% of white Evangelical Republican voters say they would back Romney over Obama in a general election matchup, and 79% would support Romney “strongly.” Generally-speaking, white Evangelicals would be among the strongest Romney supporters in a general election contest. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/Politics-and-Elections/Romneys-Mormon-Faith-Likely-a-Factor-in-Primaries-Not-in-a-General-Election.aspx?src=prc-number)