White House hopeful Romney woos religious right

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., May 5 (Reuters) US Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney wooed Christian conservatives on Saturday but passed up a chance to address their concerns about his Mormon roots.

Romney has raised the most money among Republican candidates but opinion polls show him trailing former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Sen John McCain, as well as Sen Fred Thompson who has not formally entered the race.

Analysts say Romney, a former Massachusetts governor and investment banker, has lagged in part because of his Mormon faith.

Some conservatives have questioned his dedication to their beliefs because he previously supported abortion rights, before changing his public stance in recent years.

Romney, addressing graduates of evangelist Pat Robertson's Regent University in Virginia, decided against making a political speech, his spokesman said.

''This university, its students, its alumni and the faculty serve as an example of Dr. Robertson's dedication to strengthening and then nurturing the pillars of this community and our country education, fellowship and advancement,'' Romney said.

Some students were upset about Romney's appearance. The Web site of Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network lists Mormonism on a page entitled ''How Do I Recognize a Cult?'' Still, the evangelist had praise for Romney, including his balancing of the Massachusetts budget without hiking taxes.

Many expect Romney will have to take a cue from John F Kennedy, who appealed to voters in the 1960 presidential race to judge him on his record rather than his Catholic faith amid concerns he would take direction from the Pope.

Larry Sabato, a politics professor at the University of Virginia, said Romney would have to address the issue of hisfaith eventually.

''Mormonism is hurting him,'' he said, adding that Romney's switch on abortion was a political move. ''An adult in his 40s and 50s having this overnight conversion -- nobody buys that.'' Romney previously was a bishop in Massachusetts of the Mormon faith's Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Adherents, who shun alcohol, caffeine and tobacco, believe that God speaks through living apostles and prophets such as the church's president.

Some tie the Mormon faith to its history of polygamy. Even though the practice of having multiple wives was banned in 1890, a small group still illegally follows the practice.

Romney must woo Christian conservatives if he hopes to win the Republican nomination for the presidential election in November 2008, said the dean of Regent's government program, Charles Dunn.

''He need not necessarily convert people to him as their candidate, but he just needs to get them thinking that here's somebody that has stature and has a good mind and is very knowledgeable about issues,'' Dunn said.

Romney did sprinkle his speech with Bible references, warned of growing threats from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, and urged graduates to engage in service to their families and country.

Robertson will host Giuliani next month but McCain is not likely to be welcome. During the 2000 presidential campaign, McCain called the evangelist an ''agent of intolerance.'' Reuters SM RS2251