Analysis: Right Splinters on GOP Field

AP via SFGate ^ | 11/7/7 | LIBBY QUAID, Associated Press Writer

[SmithL]

(AP) -- The splintering of prominent Christian conservatives over the Republican presidential contenders reflects a schism — between the dogma of God, guns and gays and the desire to beat Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Months of disagreement within this important GOP voting bloc culminated this week in a flurry of endorsements:

Televangelist Pat Robertson is backing Rudy Giuliani. Conservative Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas is supporting fellow Sen. John McCain of Arizona. Moral Majority co-founder Paul Weyrich is going for Mitt Romney.

All the candidates are flawed in the eyes of the Christian right, which is why some evangelical leaders are holding out and might favor a third-party candidate.

"You've got a wide-open primary, and you have various people who are ideologically acceptable — not perfect, but ideologically acceptable," Brownback said in an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press.

"If they're acceptable and can win, that's better than losing," Brownback said, speaking by telephone on a campaign swing through Iowa with McCain. "I think you're seeing a more pragmatic expression taking place."

For his part, Robertson said he worries not about electability but about terrorists. Also, he feels reassured that Giuliani would appoint Supreme Court justices who view abortion from a conservative stance.

"To me, the overriding issue before the American people is the defense of our population from the bloodlust of Islamic terrorists," Robertson said.

"I don't think evangelicals have coalesced around any candidate," he said Wednesday in Washington, with Giuliani at his side. "I just believe that I needed to make a statement, and I am speaking for myself, that ... Rudy Giuliani is, without question, an acceptable candidate."

[theFIRMbss]

>So you think Evangelicals should not have a voice in the upcoming election?

Well, I'm Born Again
and I'll be casting my vote.
Isn't that a "voice?"

Or by "voice" you mean
whining and threatening, making
religious people

look like stupid kids
trying to make their parents
buy them a new bike?

[sauropod]

I don’t agree with your characterization.

How many times do you need to see the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (or whatever they are called) going into that Catholic church in SanFran before you are offended?

[Delacon]

Me, I am an “anyone who can beat Hillary” voter right now and I am tired of big spending compassionate conservatism. Really tired. Give me Giuliani, Romney, or Thompson, whoever it may be. I won’t stay home or withold money because he doesn’t ring all the religious right’s bells.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]