Romney to speak at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University

Mitt Romney will deliver the commencement address at Liberty University, the school announced Thursday morning.

This will be Romney's first appearance at the influential evangelical Christian school, which was founded by the late religious-right leader Jerry Falwell and is run by his son, Jerry Falwell Jr. Romney has struggled with evangelicals in the Republican primary, and needs to woo the GOP's religious base to improve his standing for the general election.

The May 12 appearance could present an opportunity for Romney to discuss his faith and values, often the focus of politicians' speeches at the school. The former governor of Massachusetts has remained mostly quiet about his Mormon faith, and some Republican strategists have suggested he talk more openly about how it informs his morality.

"We are delighted that Governor Romney will join us to celebrate Commencement with Liberty’s 2012 graduates," said the younger Falwell in a statement. "This will be a historic event for Liberty University reminiscent of the visits of governor, and then presidential candidate, Ronald Reagan to Liberty's campus in 1980 and of President George H.W. Bush who spoke at Liberty’s 1990 Commencement ceremony."

The former governor is the latest in a string of Republican presidential candidates to speak there, tracing back to then-candidate Ronald Reagan in 1980. More recently, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) spoke there, both of them focusing on their faith.

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