The proportion of Republicans who buy into social liberalism is about 35 percent. That's roughly Rudy's level of support. He's their candidate not because they really believe he's the only candidate who can beat Hillary Clinton. He's their candidate because they are social liberals like him. They favor the gay rights agenda, they support hate crime legislation, they generally think guns are icky and scary, and the have few concerns about abortion.
There is no other viable Republican candidate running who more perfectly sees the world the same way they do.
You are wrong! We have all types of conservatives supporting Rudy in my State and in other states. Some of you don't get it that dynamics have changed since 9-11. Running up the flag on social issues as the #1 issue isn't going to cut it any more. Doesn't mean that the Republican voters are not values voters but it does mean that is not the #1 priority facing this Country. You take care of Defense first and go after the terrorists. Pushing social issues in 2006 costs us in some states because people are sick and tired of the same message election after election. They want answers to problems not rhetoric and that is what is happening. Voters are turned off. The majority of voters in this Country are moderate and go too far in either direction and they don't want to hear it.
But then I am a Repubican that believes winning elections is why I help out campaigns -- I don't go into campaigns wanting to ever lose because when you lose your entire agenda goes up in flames.
Some of you are going to be shocked at the amount of support Rudy is going to keep getting from Repubicans of all ideologies. Been around politics most of my life, know a lot of folks, and this is only going to get better for Rudy.