Something about the triangulation of the recent Dr. Dobson/Fred Thompson kerfuffle, the 3rd party/Rudy "I'm better than Hillary - so vote for me anyway eggheads...", and now this prominent evangelical leader's statement originally sent to 150 prominent evangelicals, and now being circulated by the New York Times, and in its entirety by our own Hugh Hewitt that is causing me to think these events might not seem as random as they appear.

Some of the more convincing graphs of the letter - and it is hard logic to argue:

As a Southern Baptist evangelical and political conservative, I am convinced I have more in common with most Mormons than I do with a liberal Southern Baptist, Methodist, Roman Catholic or a liberal from any other denomination or faith group.  The question shouldn’t be, “could I vote for a Mormon,” but, “could I vote for this Mormon?”  After all, Mitt told me there are Mormons he couldn’t vote for (I presume Harry Reid, for example); and there are Southern Baptists I couldn’t vote for (Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, to name a few).

Incidentally, if one-third of “white evangelicals” voted for Bill Clinton, the second time (a Southern Baptist who doesn’t share our values on most issues); can we not at least consider supporting a Mormon who does share our values?  Noted conservative columnist Robert Novak wrote this month that Mitt Romney is “the only Republican candidate unequivocally opposed to gay marriage and the only one who signed the no tax increase pledge.”

On May 17, my friend of nearly 30 years, Jerry Falwell, went to Heaven.  In addition to being my first employer and like a second father following the death of my father in 1979, Jerry was my political mentor in many ways.  I learned from him, some 25 years ago, the value of working closely with people of other faiths and religions who shared our convictions about the sanctity of life, support for the state of Israel, the sacredness of marriage and the importance of the family unit, the dangers of pornography, and the value of God in public life.  Consequently, the Moral Majority (and many subsequent organizations) was built with coalitions of evangelicals and like-minded Roman Catholics, Jews and yes, Mormons.

Just about six months before his death, Jerry accepted my invitation to a meeting with Gov. Romney at his home outside Boston.  He joined me, and about 15 other evangelicals, for an intimate discussion with the Governor and his wife Ann.  Jerry was one of several that day who said, “Governor, I don’t have a problem with your being Mormon, but I want to ask you how you would deal with Islamic jihadists…or with illegal immigration…or how you would choose justices for the Supreme Court…,” and so on.

While Jerry Falwell never told me how he intended to vote in the upcoming election, I think I know how he would not have voted.  I also know he would not have “sat this one out” and given up on the Supreme Court for a generation.

I am wholeheartedly convinced that Mitt Romney can be trusted to uphold the values and principles most important to me as a political conservative and an evangelical Christian.  Again, I am not being paid, and I am not interested in a job in a Romney Administration (I would not accept one even if offered, as I’m still raising three teenagers).  Neither is my public relations firm involved in any way.  I am involved because I believe the stakes are high, perhaps higher than ever before in my life.

As it pertains to my own vote, I am still waiting to see what emerges out of Iowa. I have the luxury of being in New York/New Jersey where our primaries run a bit later. Should an evangelical the likes of which I could support mainly Governor Huckabee, or an idealogical conservative that would be perhaps most in keeping with me on nearly every issue Duncan Hunter - break out and win Iowa, then this idea of choosing between Rudy and Mitt will not rage, simply because of the win.

However, having said that should the choice come down to it as a contest of Mitt v. Rudy - responsible Christians HAVE to vote Mitt. Simply because he has greater moral clarity than Rudy. And while Rudy may in fact be willing to bomb Iran if the need arises, I believe Mitt would too - but with a greater moral code in place - Mitt's basis for such a decision would be with less question than a man who has had less than absolute integrity in his marriage(S), on the issue of innocent life, on the issue of marriage, and whether or not we even have the right to own guns to defend ourselves.