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Some of the presidential candidates are bringing faith into the campaign as the primaries draw closer. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney brought up his missionary work at Saturday night's debate, one of the only times he has referred to his Mormon faith in a public setting during this year's campaign.
"I was able to serve my church overseas, and to, to meet people there that had very difficult circumstances in their life," he said, in response to a question about how he could understand financial difficulties. "I also spent time in this country, serving as a pastor in my, in my church, and again, having the occasion to work with people that were really struggling. I saw marriages under great stress."
Since the debate, Romney garnered attention for offering a $10,000 bet to Texas Governor Rick Perry over health care, a gesture that some suggest makes him appear out of touch with American's financial difficulties as well as the teachings of his church on gambling. Some suggest his references to his life as a missionary is a way to humanize the GOP candidate.
"I don't know about a conscious effort, but I do think more people should know about the more private side of Mitt Romney, including his family," Romney senior adviser and evangelical public relations agency leader Mark DeMoss told Politico. "I appreciate the fact that he hasn't talked about his personal life as much, perhaps, as candidates typically do, but also want more people to see him as I have come to know him, so I'd support any effort to reveal more of it in the coming weeks and months."
Meanwhile, President Obama, who usually visits church on holidays like Christmas and Easter, took his family to St. John's Church across the street from the White House yesterday.
The pastor's sermon on John the Baptist drew a connection to the expectations Americans might have of Obama. Many unfairly expected a messiah that could cure ...
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