Chad Groening - OneNewsNow - 2/17/2012

A Massachusetts-based analyst says even if Mitt Romney becomes the eventual Republican presidential nominee against Barack Obama, he can't vote for the former Massachusetts governor.

On Thursday, a RealClearPolitics compilation of six national polls showed Rick Santorum up on Romney by almost six points. The majority of that spread came from two polls -- Rasmussen Reports and Public Policy Polling -- which had the former Pennsylvania senator up 12 and 15 points, respectively. The four other polls showed Santorum on top as well, but with slim leads (one to three points).

John Haskins, a senior fellow at the Inter-American Institute, is a staunch critic of Romney who has challenged the former Massachusetts governor on what he calls a "phony pro-life 'conversion'" and fulfilling (as governor) campaign promises to "Republican homosexual power brokers." He hopes the poll numbers favoring Santorum indicate GOP voters are starting to wake up about Romney.

Romney, he argues, cannot be compared to supposed "establishment" GOP candidates of the past like Bob Dole, Gerald Ford, and John McCain.

"Mitt Romney is a quantum leap outside of the entire spectrum of the Republican Party," states Haskins. "He is far to the left of probably 80 percent of the liberal Democrats. You can't put Mitt Romney in the same category with Bob Dole."

And Haskins encourages Christian voters not to compromise their beliefs simply because they do not want Barack Obama re-elected.

"I would not vote for Mitt Romney under any circumstances," he says. "Just like if you put two anti-Christs against each other -- which one do you vote for? You pray. That doesn't mean you pray and then vote; [it means] you pray and you don't vote for an anti-Christ.

"You are still going to get one of those people whether you vote or not," he concludes. "But between you and God, you know you didn't vote for him."

Haskins is not endorsing any other Republican candidate, but says if Romney is the nominee and Christians must vote, they should find a suitable third-party candidate or write in someone's name.

Critic: Romney way outside GOP spectrum (OneNewsNow.com)