It is a fact that has been widely noted, but the greatest determinant of voting in 2004 was religious observance. With the more observant Americans tending to vote Republican, a group of Democrats has formed to address the concerns of one quickly growing sect: Mormons. Jerry Spangler of the Deseret Morning News has the story [via The Western Democrat]:

They are not large in number, but the Mormon Democratic Congressional Caucus is determined to dispel the perception that the words "Mormon" and "Democrat" cannot be used to describe the same person.

Under the direction of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Nevada, three of four members of the caucus met earlier this week to discuss issues relevant to the LDS community and to discuss how to raise the profile of Mormon Democrats.

Joining in the meeting were Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, and Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M. Rep. Eni Faleomavaega, a nonvoting member of Congress from American Samoa, was not able to attend but plans to participate in the future.

"Legislation is the art of compromise, and a strong two-party system is fundamental to our democracy," said Reid, who as leader of all Senate Democrats is the highest-ranking LDS member of Congress. "I believe strongly that Democrats have many of the same issues at heart as do membership of the church."

Even if the steps taken by the Mormon Democratic Congressional Caucus are not substanative, it's an important symbolic move to begin relations with the many adherents of the religion. If the Democrats indeed hope to become the majority party in the west, this could be an important first step towards courting this largely Republican constituency.