GOP Primary - Romney vs. Huntsman

There is a buzz of excitement here in Utah regarding the GOP primaries.  Two of the candidates, Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman, Jr., are LDS.  Huntsman served as Governor of Utah for four years and left office with an 80% approval rate. 

Huntsman is well liked in Utah as he was a very good governor.  However, Mitt Romney is the savior of the 2002 Olympics. Saving the Olympics brought (and continues to bring) millions of dollars to Utah. The U.S. economy is a disaster, due to the statist approach of the current administration and Washington's seeming inability or unwillingness to roll up their sleeves and fix the problem with capitalist solutions and reduction of the behemoth that is our bloated government. Whether LDS or not, Utahns have seen first hand his ability to turn around disasters so they are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Social Issues

Both men state they are "pro-life".  However, the LDS church reaffirmed abortion as a permissible choice in 1999 under the following qualifications: life of the mother is seriously endangered, good health of the mother is seriously endangered, pregnancy was caused by rape or incest, the fetus has severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth. So when they say they are "pro-life", this is for the benefit of the evangelicals in the Republican primaries.  Mormons allow exceptions but many other Christians do not.  (Unless said person is Rick Santorum and then there is only an exception for his wife but no one else on the planet.)

They are split on same-sex marriage.  Romney is against it personally but believes that it is up to each state to determine the rules for recognition of marriage.  He does not see it as a federal issue.  Huntsman does not want the current definition of marriage to change but wholeheartedly believes in civil unions. He supported bills for civil unions but none ever came across his desk for signature.  This is why Huntsman was so popular in SLC, the Gayest City in America.  Many Mormons do not have an issue with homosexuality and the right of marriage for them.  The LDS church has an issue with changing the definition of marriage from one man/one woman.  It invites an uproar from the polygamists to have their "celestial marriages" recognized by the state.  This is a very sensitive issue in Utah.

Here's where things get tricky for Utahns.  Both men are LDS.  However, Romney has served as a local lay clergy (in Massachusetts, not Utah) and tithed, sending millions of dollars to the church.  Huntsman states he is "spiritual" and draws from "an array of sources for inspiration".  Therefore, the LDS leadership issued a "temple recommend" for Mitt Romney.

I do not think that Huntsman will remain in the race much longer so all of this may be a moot point.

UPDATE: Governor Huntsman dropped out of the race on January 16, 2012.