Rudy Giuliani Falls to Fourth in Iowa, Pro-Abortion Stance Upsets 75%

Life News ^ | 10/9/07 | Steven Ertelt

[wagglebee]

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new poll sponsored by the Des Moines Register newspaper finds former mayor Rudy Giuliani falling to fourth in the first presidential battleground. Additional questions of likely caucus-goers by the newspaper finds 75 percent of Republicans are turned off by his pro-abortion stance.

The newspaper surveyed like voters from October 1-3 and released the results Monday.

The survey found former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney well out in front with the backing of 29 percent of GOP voters who say they will likely participate in the caucus.

Another 18 percent support former Sen. Fred Thompson, but the poll shows former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee with the support of 12 percent and Giuliani falling to fourth with only 11 percent.

Part of the reason for Giulaini's drop in the standings in Iowa, which can make or break a presidential campaign, has to do with his pro-abortion views.

Asked for their concerns about voting for a particular candidate, 55 percent of Republican voters in Iowa said the fact that Giuliani "supports abortion rights" is a "major factor" in preventing them for voting for him. Another 20 percent said abortion is a "minor factor."

Drake University professor Dennis Goldford talked with Campaigns and Elections magazine about the numbers.

"[Romney's] Iowa-centric strategy still seems to be going according to plan," he said. "Giuliani hasn't been [in Iowa] much and [support] seems to have softened."

Goldford said Huckabee appears to be the only candidate breaking into the upper echelon from the minor candidates at the bottom of the polls and "if anyone from that second tier is going to emerge...it's Huckabee."

Romney held steady from the last Register poll in May, moving from 30 to 29 percent. Huckabee surged from 4 to 12 percent and Giuliani declined to 11 from 17 in May. Thompson was not included in the may survey because he hadn't declared a bid yet.

Another new Iowa political survey seems to support the Register's results.

An Insider Advantage poll has Romney in front with 24 percent and Giuliani second with just 16 percent of the Iowa vote. Thompson and Huckabee are tied with 13 percent in that poll.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Hear,hear.

[mbraynard]

Hannity is a talk show host first. And he’s a host who a) is not as smart as many in his audience but thinks b) his audience is stupid. It’s a lethal combination.

[mbraynard]

Bibleelter - Excellent analysis. Spot on.

[mbraynard]

That started with his selection of Cheney eight years ago.

In retrospect, however, it's not necessarily a bad thing that the nominee will be perceived as his own man.

Er, and Allen would have blown as a candidate.

[Red Steel]

Didn’t McCain win NH in 2000?

Yes, as I recall and then subsequently lost South Carolina.

McCain became bitter about SC and wallah, campaign finance reform becomes law.

[Jim Robinson]

"Part of the reason for Giulaini's drop in the standings in Iowa, which can make or break a presidential campaign, has to do with his pro-abortion views."

Well, duh.

[8mmMauser]

Pinged from Terri Dailies

8mm

[Das Outsider]

Excellent. The word about Rooody is getting out!

All I've heard over the last two days is, "At least he's not Hillary. At least he's not Hillary. At least he's not Hillary."

"Anyone but Bush" was stupid when the Democrats used it in '04; "Anyone but Hillary" is no different. Let's try to do better. The fact is, a lot of people do care about pro-life issues--not merely abortion--and understand their fundamental importance, even if some so-called conservative voices do not.

Single issues matter when the issue is life or death, or even how we treat human life in our nation.

[Das Outsider]

My drive home from work takes about an hour and Hannity’s radio show is on, I listen to it until he starts cheering for Rooty Toot (usually about ten minutes) and then turn it off.

This is what you missed:

But Hillary's a socialist! But, but...You don't want to put Hillary in office, do you? She's a socialist! Socialists want to eliminate God. Did you know that? You don't want to eliminate God--or do you?

Leave it to Hannity to marginalize the pro-life movement by using the term as a byword for opposition to abortion only.

[Das Outsider]

(I’ve noticed that Hannity’s shows are worse than normal when Rush is on vacation and Hannity can’t steal talking points).

Uh, yeah--that became apparent after listening for about a week. It's Rush-Lite much of the time.

I like Sean, but he's going the wrong way--especially as of late.

[cookcounty]

If he can’t win in Iowa and New Hampshire, he’s a goner, going to end up fighting with Mitt over New England scraps.

[MountainFlower]

I pray you are right! I just found out that one of our seemingly pro-life state legislators is trying to bring Rudy in to Sioux Falls for an event, at $1,000/ plate! I am appalled! Made creepy headline in the Argus Liar. (Sheds a new light on that particular legislator as well....I think the paper stated he has been long time friends with Rudy!??)