Obama’s religion questioned

>>> good evening. it didn't take long for the issue that loomed so large in the last presidential election to kind its way to the headlines in this election. religion. the president's religion, the religion of his challenger, especially mitt romney 's mormonism was front and center again today, helped along by the remarks this morning on live television by the son of the most famous preacher in america. we have two reports tonight, before we hear from peter alexander on the campaign trail in michigan. we begin with nbc's andrea mitchell in washington on this change in the tone about the conversation about religion today. andrea, good evening.

>> reporter: good evening, brian. rick santorum has been firing up the republican base by accusing president obama of having, quote, a phony theology. he says he's not questioning the president's christian faith , but he has reignited a hot debate over religion and politics . rick santorum says he's not talking about religion but about president obama 's environmental policy .

>> the government gives him the drugs --

>> but then santorum brought up the president's controversial former pastor, the reverend jeremiah wright on fox news last night.

>> he went to reverend wright's zurj for 20 years. you can question what kind of theology the reverend has. he says he's a christian, he goes to a christian church now.

>> reporter: the comments are red meat for some conservatives.

>> it's about some phony ideal, some phony theology. oh, not a theology based on the bible, a different theology.

>> reporter: and others are now picking up the theme. on " morning joe " today, reverend billy graham's son cast out on whether president obama is a christian.

>> by your definition, he's not a christian?

>> you have to ask him. i cannot answer that question for anybody.

>> but you do not believe he's a muslim?

>> no.

>> categorically not a muslim.

>> i can't say categorically because islam has gotten a free pass under obama.

>> reporter: two years ago, the president visited an ailing graham. at the national prayer breakfast , he spoke about it.

>> reverend graham started praying for me as he had for so many presidents before me. and when he finished praying, i felt the urge to pray for him.

>> reporter: today, the white house dismissed franklin graham 's comments saying the president had just talked at the prayer breakfast about the importance of faith in his life. mitt romney was also questioned today about franklin graham .

>> most christians would not recognize mormonism as part of the christian faith .

>> reporter: the last time he ran for president, romney tried to putmon issue at rest.

>> person shouldn't be accepted because of his faith, nor should he be rejected because of his faith.

>> reporter: the president has to often grap wl religion. and there's no way to predict how it will affect voters this year. andrea mitchell , nbc news, washington.