Romney not joining calls for Craig to resign so far

While Republican rival John McCain and at least two other Republicans in Congress called this afternoon for embattled US Senator Larry E. Craig to resign, Mitt Romney is demurring so far from giving the same advice to the man who until two days ago was his presidential camapign's co-chairman in the Senate.

"Governor Romney has made his views known on this subject and we have nothing to add at this point," Romney campaign spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said in an email.

Romney's pointed words already about Craig could help insulate his presidential bid from the controversy. But in some eyes, it could end up alienating Craig's supporters in his home state of Idaho, where the senator was Romney's co-chairman.

On Monday night, Romney quickly and unceremoniously dumped Craig following news of his guilty plea and arrest by an undercover officer investigating reports of lewd behavior in a Minneapolis airport bathroom.

Tuesday, Romney harshly criticized such behavior, calling it "disgusting" and comparing it to past Washington sex scandals involving former Florida congressman Mark Foley and former President Bill Clinton.

"Some of [Romney's] people might be wondering, 'Does this create some problems when you have the senior elected official in Idaho being set upon this way," The Washington Post quotes Randy Stapilus, who has written several books on Idaho politics, as saying.

The Post points out on its political blog today that Romney has raised about $416,000 in Idaho, far more than any other presidential candidate. Idaho has the highest proportion of fellow Mormons, behind only Utah.