Dobson doesn’t endorse in primaries, nor does Rush Limbaugh, but between the two is more influence on the GOP primary electorate than any other five commentators combined. Limbaugh's audience dwarfs in size and loyalty any other audience in broadcast period, much less among conservative influencers.
And James Dobson's influence on evangelicals is far greater even than the enmity in which Dobson is held by the opponents of what Romney branded the "common creed of moral convictions" that has endured from the Founding to this day..
This outpouring of praise and sustained attention is occurring 72 hours before absentees are available in New Hampshire for that state’s primary January 8.
There are a few outliers in the world of conservative influencers who were not with this group of enthusiasts, but now that the reactions are in and counted, there is simply no basis for considering the Romney speech other than a triumph of staging and substance. Whether or not he gains the nomination or the presidency, Romney put himself in the political history books with an address that, along with “the Kennedy speech” will be shorthand for the powerful presentation of the civic religion of America which holds that no man or woman’s religion will be a bar to the presidency.