[muawiyah]

You do know we are very sensitive to the Republican message. When a candidate drops the social issues we know what that means ~ and we already have enough gay guys in the ranks, as well as pro-abortionists.

Certainly no one expects the Republican candidates to focus on only 1 issue, or even 2 or 3, but Halley's ranking of priorities leads to the social issues being dropped.

[9YearLurker]

I know there’s good reason for cynicism from those who are strongly pro-life or anti-illegal immigration, particularly, when dealing with Establishment pols like Barbour.

The surest way to get pro-life candidates elected in this environment, however, truly is #1) to start out with genuinely pro-life candidates and #2) to have those candidates stress the economy—not deny their social positions, but campaign in the general election on the economy.

[colorado tanker]

I disagree. I don't see anything in his message about running pro-abortion candidates or changing the party's position on pro-life. He's talking tactics for this election and he's right. The economy and fiscal policy is at the top of everyone's concerns right now.

It wouldn't surprise me to see Democrats raise the abortion issue as a way of trying to divert attention from the economy because they are delusional and think a majority support their position. I saw a Dim running for Congress out here a few cycles ago do that in a marginally Dim district. Problem is a lot of the voters were blue-collar Catholics, but he persisted in pointing out the Republican was pro-life. He lost.