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Bob Novak today: "All that is left for Romney to write is a speech that asserts the Constitution imposes no religious test for the presidency. However, that runs the risk of implicitly indicting anyone who votes against Mitt Romney as a bigot. As he awaited the Texas speech this week without knowing what Romney will say, one adviser hoped that the candidate would come across as a man of faith and integrity.That adviser is hoping to reverse Romney's performance in last week's dismal Republican presidential debate at St. Petersburg, Fla. Romney no longer is called the perfect candidate hampered solely by religious prejudice. After a half-hour immigrant-bashing duel with Rudy Giuliani, he looked like somebody who would say anything to be nominated. At College Station today, Romney will try to correct that impression, even if he does not win over bigots."
That may be the real test for Romney: whether he projects a core of personal faith, rather than someone marketing himself to religious conservatives. And while all this is going on those libertarian streaked New Hampshire voters are looking on -- and listening to McCain talk about frugality and success in Iraq with Curt Schilling. Hard to be everywhere and message separately to everyone. UPDATE: And some of those NH voters in the Boston media market will be reading this which a bit over the top but nevertheless I think correctly identifies Romney's problem as not a Mormon one but a conviction one.

topics:
Constitution, Iraq