Romney Still Talking Nonexistent Wars On Religion

Focus groups must be driving the campaign’s relentless labeling of Obama as a secularist

If Mitt Romney is an Etch-A-Sketch, then he’s the model that requires a very violent shaking before he’ll change appearance.

On Monday, the former Massachusetts governor appeared to attack President Barack Obama over religious freedoms. Again, he brought up the administration’s compromise on contraception coverage for women, labeling it Obama’s “war on religion” and an attempt to “establish a religion known as secularism.”

Dog whistling, anyone?

Romney’s comments were made during a campaign stop in Wisconsin, ahead of Tuesday’s GOP primary. Whether or not campaign focus groups are keeping religion a “stump” talking point, Romney’s comments step all over his wife Ann’s speeches, where she’s aimed to steer the conversation away from contraception and back on the economy.

[ALSO READ: Top Five Attacks On Obama’s Religion]

A USA Today/Gallup poll out Monday also highlighted Mitt’s support gap among female voters in all-important swing states. Obama leads Romney by 30 percent points among women under 50, according to the poll.

But that’s clearly not enough of a “shaking” for Mitt to get the clue. Women appear to be signaling how displeased they are with being used as a football in discussions of freedom from government intrusion.

But even Mitt has flipped on his support of contraceptive freedom. Maybe his campaign is hoping women will remember that in November.

[SUBSCRIBE TO LOOP 21 RSS FEED]