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 "To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution. No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes president, he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths," Romney said in remarks prepared for delivery at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum.
"When I place my hand on the Bible and take the oath of office, that oath becomes my highest promise to God," Romney said in a pledge echoing that made in 1960 when Democrat John F. Kennedy, sought to become the first Catholic elected president. "If I am fortunate to become your president, I will serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause and no one interest. A president must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States."
More broadly, Romney sought to allay concerns of Christian conservatives, some of whom have propelled Mike Huckabee, a one-time Southern Baptist minister, to join Romney atop the polls in Iowa, which kicks off presidential voting next month.
At the same time, surveys show up to half the electorate have problems voting for a Mormon candidate.
"It is important to recognize that while differences in theology exist between the churches in America, we share a common creed of moral convictions," said Romney.
The former Massachusetts governor also sought to use the occasion to sound a call for greater religious thought in daily civic life. In particular, he said nativity scenes and menorahs should remain in public places during the holiday season.
"We separate church and state affairs in this country, and for good reason. No religion should dictate to the state nor should the state interfere with the free practice of religion. But in recent years, the notion of the separation of church and state has been taken by some well beyond its original meaning. They seek to remove from the public domain any acknowledgment of God," Romney said.
"The founders proscribed the establishment of a state religion, but they did not countenance the elimination of religion from the public square. We are a nation
'Under God' and in God, we do indeed trust," he added.
Former President George H.W. Bush was introducing Romney, as well as offering the venue for the speech. His library, located on the edge of the Texas A&M campus, is 90 miles from Houston, where Kennedy delivered his speech about faith and politics just two months before winning the 1960 election.
Beyond speaking about faith, Romney sought to use the occasion to relaunch his campaign as the broader electorate begins to tune into his nomination fight against a field that includes some better-known candidates like former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and veteran Arizona Sen. John McCain.
Striking a family chord, Romney's wife of 38 years, Ann, and four of the couple's five sons were joining him for the speech.
"We are a long way from perfect and we have surely stumbled along the way," Romney said, adding that his aspirations and values stand upon a "common foundation" with other faiths and pledging that "these convictions will indeed inform my presidency."
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 In a clear appeal to social and Christian conservatives, he also invited James Bopp Jr., an anti-abortion activist who is Romney's "special adviser on life issues," and Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, to be his guests at the speech.
"Our greatness would not long endure without judges who respect the foundation of faith upon which our constitution rests," said Romney, who favors overturning the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.
Romney released excerpts of his speech an hour before the network morning shows, but had refused to answer questions about its content earlier. Instead, his campaign released pictures of him editing his speech. Aides say he wrote it himself a week ago, after the latest GOP debate in Florida.
While Romney has been subject to some leafletting and phone calling pointing to religious differences between his faith and others, he has faced little religious bigotry or questions on the campaign trail. Instead, political realities played a role in his decision to make the speech.
In an AP-Yahoo poll last month, half said they had some problems supporting a Mormon presidential candidate, including one-fifth who said it would make them very uncomfortable.
Fifty-six percent of white evangelical Christians -- a major portion of likely participants in the early GOP presidential contests in Iowa and South Carolina
-- expressed reservations about a Mormon candidate. Among non-evangelicals, 48 percent said it troubled them. Almost a quarter
-- 23 percent -- of evangelicals said they were very uncomfortable with the idea.
There has been little apparent shift in public attitudes over the past four decades toward a possible Mormon candidacy, according to Gallup polling.
A USA Today-Gallup Poll last February showed 24 percent said they would not vote for a well-qualified candidate chosen by their party if the person was a Mormon. Four percent said they were unsure.
In April 1967 -- when Romney's father, George Romney, was running for president
-- the result was similar. Then, 17 percent said they would not vote for a Mormon candidate and 8 percent expressed uncertainty.
[Associated
Press; By GLEN JOHNSON]
Associated Press writer Alan Fram contributed to this report from Washington.
Copyright 2007 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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