Liberals increasingly doubtful of Mormons in White House: Study

Washington, June 17 (ANI): The liberals are increasingly wary about Mitt Romney's Mormon faith in the run-up to the U.S presidential polls, according to a new study. The study found that anti-Mormon attitudes have increased since Romney's 2008 presidential bid and are highest among liberal and non-religious voters, Fox News reports. The study found attitudes about Mormonism among Evangelicals has largely remained unchanged since 2007, when 37 percent said they were "less likely to vote for a Mormon candidate for president, compared with 33 percent this year". "The victory of Mitt Romney in the 2012 Republican primary has convinced many observers that Romney's Mormon religion is now irrelevant to his electoral chances, study's author David Smith said. But "aversion to Mormons is still an important force in American public opinion, and one that seriously affects Romney's chances even if he ultimately overcomes it," he added. However, that sentiment among non-religious voters increased from 21 percent to 41 percent over roughly the same period. Among liberal voters, 43 percent said they were less likely to vote for a Mormon presidential candidate in 2012, compared with 28 percent in 2007. The study by Smith, a University of Sydney scholar, found the apparent anti-Mormon sentiment among liberal votes might be the result of the member's activism against "same-sex" marriage. (ANI)