Romney faces skepticism in Deep South primaries

Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss.

Mitt Romney faces a tough sell in the Deep South. With Mississippi and Alabama primaries coming up Tuesday, there’s concern that he’s too slick, not really a conservative. In a region where the evangelical vote is important, some are skeptical about his Mormon faith.

But if Romney wins the Republican nomination and it’s a November choice between him and Democratic President Barack Obama, the former Massachusetts governor may be just good enough for some Southerners.

“If push comes to shove, and he gets the nomination, I’ll go in the voting booth like this and vote for him,” says Mississippi retiree David Wilke, holding his nose.

Romney acknowledges that he faces an uphill battle in Tuesday’s Southern primaries. In an interview Thursday with Birmingham, Ala., radio station WAPI, he said the Deep South contests would be “a bit of an away game” for him.

Campaigning in Pascagoula, Miss., Romney said he is turning into an “unofficial Southerner.”

“I’m learning to say ‘y’all,’ and I like grits,” he said.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who represented Georgia for 20 years and now lives in Virginia, needs to win every state from South Carolina to Texas to get to the convention this summer, spokesman R.C. Hammond says.

Gingrich scored an early primary victory in South Carolina and won this week in Georgia. Romney added a Virginia win this week — Gingrich and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum weren’t on the ballot — to his Jan. 31 win in Florida, which culturally is not entirely a Southern state, despite its geography. Santorum won Tennessee.

After Mississippi and Alabama next week, Louisiana votes March 24, North Carolina on May 8, Arkansas on May 22 and Texas on May 29.

Romney is supported by top Republicans in many Southern states, including in Alabama, and he’ll speak in Birmingham today. He’s been endorsed by former Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, though Riley concedes Romney is an underdog in the state.