A few weeks ago, I heard a Mormon man cheerfully recount his recent experience as a missionary in Minnesota. Whenever he and his companion (Mormons always proselyte in twos) were turned away—as happened at most houses—the missionaries always offered to shovel the householder’s snow-packed walk. Just to do a good turn. Plant a seed. Leave a positive impression.
Knock as he might, a lot of doors are closing in Mitt Romney’s face these days. Minnesota. Missouri. Colorado. He may very well lose Michigan, the state his father governed. Polls even suggest that Arizona, which has a large LDS population and has been described as a Romney “firewall,” could be in play for Santorum, a situation not helped by the recent resignation of Romney’s state campaign co-chair the notoriously anti-immigrant Sheriff Paul Babeu, after it was revealed that he was gay and had threatened to deport an undocumented Mexican ex-boyfriend.
Yet Romney forges on, with his advisors proclaiming confidence in their deep pockets and ability to buy airtime, even though the campaign’s ground game is not as strong as it may seem.
That ground-level weakness reflects the foundational flaw of the Romney campaign. Romney banked on the idea that conservative Christian voters would come around—with enough time, good will, and hard work. With just enough walk-shoveling.
That was always a risky bet for a wonky Yankee Mormon. And evidence suggests that it hasn’t worked: evangelical Christians are consolidating behind Rick Santorum.
Had Romney not spent the entire first part of his candidacy trying to pass himself off as a regular Christian conservative, he might be in a position to state the obvious: to take the Republican party by the shoulders and make the case that Santorum’s extremism on matters like public education and birth control will alienate women and independents crucial to the 2012 contest.
Instead, Mitt Romney is doing what Mormons often do when a door slams in their faces.
Holding his tongue. Trying to leave a good impression. Moving to the next door. And starting all over again.
