THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Mitt Romney’s rivals are seeking to exploit doubts about his faith, values and business record in a last ditch bid to stop him claiming a third straight primary victory in the race to decide which Republican will face Barack Obama in November.
His more conservative opponents are splitting the vote in a state where six out of ten Republicans are evangelical or born again Christians, while Mr Romney's superior organisation and fund-raising is expected to pay dividends.
But South Carolina is known for surprises, and undercurrents of anti-Romney sentiment, based on his Mormonism and his previous support for abortion, could yet cripple his chances.
David Woodard, a professor of political science at Clemson University who has advised numerous presidential campaigns in South Carolina, said: "It is too early to put a crown on him."
"It's not just his faith that's the problem. It's his moderation and his history that make it hard for him to fit down here. That doesn't mean he can't win, but he is from Massachusetts and we're talking about the great-great-grandchildren of the people that fired on Fort Sumter," he said, referring to a famous Civil War battle.
At a campaign appearance over the weekend, a voter asked Mr Romney bluntly if he believed in Jesus Christ – a question which reflected the fact that 50 per cent of Americans do not believe the Church of the Latter Day Saints to be Christian.
"Yes, I do," the candidate replied, adding: "I happen to believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and my saviour, but I know other people have differing views, and I respect those views and don't believe those qualify or disqualify people for leadership in our nation." Read on and comment » | Alex Spillius, Greenville, South Carolina | Sunday, January 15, 2012
