That's Some P.R.

[Public Image] Enough already about Mitt Romney's 24-minute speech to Americans yesterday about God, faith and a couple of sentences thrown in about Mormons.

Living in Utah, we're constantly bombarded by talk of how sensitive the LDS Church is about its public image. The church, we're told, is a global concern now more than ever before. It's invested in the technology and promotion to spread a worthy image worldwide.

Something about the message apparently hasn't shaken out. This story was published just hours before Romney delivered his speech from College Station, Texas. Among other things, it cites an August poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. Asked for a one-word impression of Mormonism, 75 percent said "polygamy" (The official church banned plural marriage more than 100 years ago). Fifty-seven percent called Mormonism a cult.

Whew.

Which seems to say that even with the spit-shined Romney as its most powerful political weapon these days, this church has a bigger p.r. priority than one of its own winning the presidency in 2008.

(Holly Mullen)