Mormon Church Distances Itself From Romney, Huntsman Campaigns

The Wall Street Journal outlines the preemptive steps the church has taken

With two prominent Mormon candidates in the GOP field, the Church of Latter Day Saints is taking preemptive steps to ensure that it's not seen as promoting a particular candidate, The Wall Street Journal reported. The idea, in part, seems to be distancing the "I'm a Mormon" religious ad campaign from any hint that it's taking sides with Mitt Romney or Jon Huntsman in next year's presidential election:

Already, the church said it has reined in the participation of officials in political campaigns and reshuffled a public advertising campaign to avoid appearing to interfere in politics. Church officials now monitor the Internet, television broadcasts and print publications daily to sniff out even a hint that anti-Mormonism is entering the 2012 campaign.

In late June, The Boston Globe ran a similar story noting that Mormon leaders were "emphasiz[ing] that their ad campaign is not an attempt to help Romney or Huntsman." For all their worrying, however, it might be a good time to note that less than half of America can actually identify Mitt Romney as a Mormon.