Reid leads Mormons into D.C. mainstream

[NVMojo]

WASHINGTON - The day after it was clear the Democrats would rule the U.S. Senate, President Bush invited its top two leaders to the White House for conversation and coffee.
It's a good bet that Sen. Harry Reid didn't partake of the latter. The Nevada Democrat, a faithful Mormon, won't touch coffee, tea or alcohol.
"He doesn't even drink soda. I'm sure it was orange juice" Reid sipped during the presidential chat, joked Tessa Hafen, Reid's former spokeswoman.
It's a small but important detail to note for Reid, who was elected last week to lead the Senate when Democrats take over in January. He'll assume the role of majority leader and take his place in history as the highest-ranking elected Mormon in U.S. history.
Observers say that shows that Mormonism, long a religion seen outside Utah as peculiar, is becoming more mainstream.
"It's an important symbol," says John Green, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. "That has always been a mark of religious groups in American society, that in some important sense the group has become part of the mainstream."

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[jaysunb]

1. Funny how things work out sometimes

One side note in his ascension is that it could end up helping Republican Mitt Romney, who is expected to run for president. Several pundits have warned that Romney's Mormonism could be his biggest hindrance, but if the public becomes accustomed to Mormons in high office, the going might be easier.
"Harry Reid's LDS affiliation will be a net plus for Mitt Romney, clearly demonstrating to moderates and independents Mormons can be active in the church and be a leader of great consequence," Nixon says.