The only reason that makes any sort of sense is that Pat and Rudy made some kind of a deal -- Pat's endorsement for Rudy in turn nominating conservative SCOTUS judges or something. ...and perhaps a few other promises. Obviously Pat didn't all of a sudden morph into a liberal overnight; he had to get something out of the deal. Pat's a political pragmatist, and always has been. He'd be endorsing Hunter otherwise.
I certainly don't agree with Pat in this matter, but I suspect he endorsed Rudy for the reasons stated above. ...and he probably thinks he'll be the winner.
yah, a quota for regent university jobs in the WH at the expense of their whole ethical framework.