Christian conservative says evangelicals will likely move toward Mitt Romney

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Christian conservative leader believes evangelical voters will continue their shift toward GOP White House hopeful Mitt Romney now that Rick Santorum has suspended his campaign.

Dr. Richard Land, director of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, says he's saddened by Santorum's decision, but thinks the former Pennsylvania senator made the best decision for the future.

Land predicts evangelical voters will continue to move toward Romney unless the former Massachusetts governor does something "counterproductive." Land says Romney should continue to stress key issues including marriage, support for Israel and opposition to abortion.

He says he believes Mormonism will become an issue because media, which he says favor Obama, "will bring it up."

Land says the president has the support of about one third of evangelicals but "has the unique ability to unite people around his opponent."

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%@AP Links

268-a-11-(Dr. Richard Land, director, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention, in AP interview)-"for his future"-Dr. Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention says he has mixed emotions about Rick Santorum's decision. (10 Apr 2012)

<> 00:11 "for his future"

269-a-09-(Dr. Richard Land, , director, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention, in AP interview)-"would be counterproductive"-Dr. Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention says evangelical voters are likely to keep moving toward Mitt Romney. (10 Apr 2012)

<> 00:09 "would be counterproductive"

270-a-10-(Dr. Richard Land, director, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention, in AP interview)-"support for Israel"-Dr. Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention says Mitt Romney needs to stress key issues to galvanize support among evangelicals. (10 Apr 2012)

<> 00:10 "support for Israel"

271-a-10-(Dr. Richard Land, director, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention, in AP interview)-"bring it up"-Dr. Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention says he believes the press will show its bias by harping on Mormonism. (10 Apr 2012)

<> 00:10 "bring it up"