Christian Coalition Confusion

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Mitt Romney recently confused two influential Christian conservatives.

Romney gestured to Ralph Reed and said, “Why it’s good to see Gary Bauer here.” (For the detached, Bauer is a former presidential candidate with ties, like Reed, to the Religious Right.)

Romney then caught himself. “Oh, I’m a little mixed up here,” he said. But Romney still couldn’t place Reed’s face — and had to move on.

After the event, Romney approached Reed and apologized for misremembering him.

A source close to Romney and Reed tells me that, having been a candidate himself, Reed understands these things happen.