The possibility of a third party candidate is one of the growing concerns DeMoss says he has as the final stretch of the nominating process approaches.
"While I wholeheartedly agree with Dr. James Dobson that not having a pro-life nominee of either major party presents an unacceptable predicament, I would rather work hard to ensure we do nominate a pro-life candidate than to launch an 11th-hour third party campaign," he writes.
In regards to Romney's "conversion" on the abortion issue, which some conservatives have doubted the authenticity of, DeMoss defended the former governor, stating that he "always thought the pro-life movement existed for the purpose of influencing hearts and mind on the issue of life, and historically, we have celebrated converts to our side."
"We embraced Ronald Reagan (who signed a liberal abortion law as governor of California), Norma McCorvey ("Jane Roe"), and others-and I am prepared to accept and embrace Mitt Romney," DeMoss writes.
In his letter, dated for Tuesday, DeMoss also addresses one of the biggest concerns surrounding Romney that prompted many evangelicals to keep their distance - the presidential hopeful's Mormon faith.
"Now, I fully recognize some evangelicals take issue with me for supporting a Mormon for the office of president, and I respect their concerns. Indeed, I had to deal with the same concerns in my own heart before offering to help Gov. Romney," he confesses.
"But I concluded that I am more concerned that a candidate shares my values than he shares my theology."
DeMoss's sentiments mirror those of other Christian conservatives including Southern Baptists leaders Dr. Richard Land and Dr. R. Albert Mohler, who have affirmed Mormonism as "false" and "antithetical to historic orthodox Christianity," but also acknowledged that they are not voting for a "pastor in chief" or a theologian.
"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," DeMoss continues, as he nears the end of his five-page letter.
In closing, the self-described Southern Baptist evangelical and political conservative urges the recipients of the letter to pray fervently for the upcoming election, to follow the news and the primary calendar, encourage others to vote, encourage others to support the candidate who best represents their values and not just their theology, and galvanize support around Romney.
"I believe we can make a difference-the difference in this election," DeMoss states.
According the latest Associated Press-Ipsos poll, white men, conservatives, evangelicals and other pivotal blocs are still divided among the Republican Party's leading contenders for president, leaving the race for the 2008 GOP nomination highly fluid.
The poll showed the contest remains a virtual tie between Giuliani at 27 percent and Fred Thompson, the actor and former senator from Tennessee, at 23 percent. Not far behind are Sen. John McCain of Arizona at 13 percent and Romney at 11 percent. About 18 percent of Republicans, meanwhile, did not back a candidate.
In contrast, New York Sen. Clinton has a clear, across-the-board lead in the Democratic race over Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois by 46 percent to 25 percent, a margin notably wider than the one she has enjoyed for months. Lagging behind was former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina at 9 percent.
