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DENVER — GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid are both members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But they both have very different views about politics — and even about what it means to be "a good Mormon."
Reid isn't shy about saying he's not only an Obama supporter in politics, but disappointed in Romney as a fellow Church member.
During an interview with KSL News Tuesday, Reid began by saying partisan politics is keeping the U.S. economy from recovering.
I think it's important for the people of Utah to understand that one of my goals is to make sure that people understand that Romney is not the face of Mormonism.
–Sen. Harry Reid
"We have tried so hard to create jobs, and (Republicans) have one thing in mind: and that is to defeat (President Barack) Obama," Reid said. "And that's how they've voted."
He said the problems of the country are being exacerbated by those congressional Republicans, and pointed to a sharp rise in filibusters as evidence.
Between 1955 and 1961, then-Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson had to deal with just one filibuster; the number since 2007, when Reid took the office, totals 382.
"Filibuster after filibuster after filibuster," Reid said. "It's gotten so intense that if we have a Democratic majority in the Senate, and we have a Democratic president — which it looks pretty good right now — we're going to change it. (Republicans) are using it to defeat pretty much everything."
And he predicts voters around the country aren't buying the tactic. In fact, in his own swing state, Nevada, he points out polls that show the president slightly ahead of Mitt Romney.
"Well, the best thing Obama has going for him right now is Romney," Reid quipped.
Related:
Colorado: A look at the first presidential debate
The presidential race is slowly drawing to a close after more than a year of campaigning for the White House. On Wednesday, President Barack Obama and Republican opponent Mitt Romney will get their first opportunity to debate each other in the battleground state of Colorado.As Romney concentrates on swing states, he's working feverishly to connect with voters. But last month's release of a fundraising video tape, where he made comments about 47 percent of America not paying taxes, has made a difference.
The incident it outraged fellow Mormon Harry Reid.
"I think it's important for the people of Utah to understand that one of my goals is to make sure that people understand that Romney is not the face of Mormonism," Reid said.
"Somebody who says that half the people of America are victims, and he's not going to pay any attention to them, I don't think that speaks very well of how I understand what Mormonism's all about," Reid continued. "I mean, why do we have the great welfare program that we have? To help people who need help."
There's no love lost between Reid and Romney right now. The two haven't spoken in years.
