Many have doubts about Mormon president

WASHINGTON, May 23 (UPI) -- More than a quarter of U.S. residents say they are concerned about the possibility of a Mormon president, a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll indicates.

Evangelical Christians are even more likely to worry about a Mormon in the White House, with a third saying they are concerned, the poll released Tuesday said. Mitt Romney, a prominent member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, lost much of the evangelical vote in the Republican primaries although he is now the party's almost-certain nominee.

About 16 percent of respondents said a Mormon president would raise concerns for "you or your family." Eleven percent said a Mormon president would raise concerns for "people in your neighborhood or who you work with."

Bill McInturff, a Republican who conducts the poll with Democrat Peter Hart, said U.S. residents are typically unwilling to admit they make presidential choices based on religion, gender and ethnicity. That suggests a "significant cross-current" of people who would not vote for a Mormon.

Democrats were more likely than Republicans to express reservations about a Mormon president. Hart said that might be because they have reservations about Romney specifically.