The Romney Irony

Mitt Romney is a nice guy, he is not my favored pick for the Presidency -- but he is a clean cut and honest guy. But, he faces what is probably an obstacle embedded in a political irony that will probably preclude his nomination and most certainly his election if nominated.
The political irony with which Romney is faced is simply this: given his recent pandering to the Christian right he is considered by most people outside the Christian right as clearly a Christian right candidate. On the other hand, because he is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints most people who are inside the Christian right do not consider him a Christian.

So the task that Romney faces is proving to the social conservatives that Mormons are Christians, and though Mormons are normally a group that comes in for special hatred from their bigoted core -- that Romney is their best candidate for their avowed intent to replace the Constitution with the Bible and legislate Evangelical lifestyles and beliefs for all. That in itself is a pretty tall order, when 30% of Americans are currently saying that they will not vote a Mormon under any circumstances -- and you have to believe that a large portion of the 30% are right-wing social conservatives in the Republican party.

The same poll showed that 40% of Americans had no idea what a Mormon was. This 40% is probably largely inhabited by the voters on the left side of the of American politics. Further, they are seeing a man who portrayed himself as pro-life and a member of that nearly extinct group known as moderate Republicans. He did that to get elected Governor in one of the most liberal States in the Union -- namely Massachussets. Now, however, that he is running for the Presidency, he is repudiating many of the things which he held himself up to represent in order to get elected Governor. So moderates and centrists are now beginning to consider him just another ranting social conservative.

So Romney is caught up in a very, very tough corner. McCain, has taken a somewhat similar approach -- his credibility with the American people was based on the fact that he was a Republican rebel and a political maverick. Which basically highlights his problem -- how do you get nominated by a party which you have built your reputation in rebelling from? And, the related problem of how do you woo your own party without destroying the reputation which makes you palatable to the conservative Democrat, moderate Republicans, and the independents. My guess is that you cannot walk that political tightrope and get elected President. But -- what are the Republican alternatives?