Replies

I have talked to SEVERAL (and I do mean many) who know Rudy is pro-choice and who themselves have been active (and I mean ACTIVE) in pro-life issues, but who would vote for Rudy in a second if it meant stopping Hillary. And that's a fact.

Now, around here, the common retort is, "Well, they aren't really Christians" or some such nonsense.

I learned my lesson in 2006 to ignore polls. I won't do it again. You people better figure this out: these polls showing Rudy up are pretty darn accurate. Someone has to BEAT him, because bad-mouthing him will not change anything. And so far, there is no one on the right who is coming close to beating him. Now, if Fred Thompson enters the race, that might change.

But don't fool yourselves into thinking that "churchgoers" or "pro-life" people won't support Rudy if push comes to shove.

I spoke at a VERY large county GOP convention two weeks ago here in OH and there were many people I know who were committed Christians reluctantly saying they would support Rudy.

I spoke at a VERY large county GOP convention two weeks ago here in OH and there were many people I know who were committed Christians reluctantly saying they would support Rudy.

I think you make some very valid points, but soliciting opinions at a county GOP convention, from committed Christians or anyone else, is going to yield skewed results.

Based on the poll data to this point I think it's fair to say that a significant percentage of GOP voters are still unaware of Giuliani's positions on many issues. If his support is softer among regular church goers it stands to reason that support will soften more as his views become widely known. Enough to derail his candidacy? I don't know, but it won't help.

Additionally, there's more to winning than garnering "reluctant" support. Many of those church goers and pro-lifers are the boots on the ground necessary to generate and sustain momemtum. Rudy may well get their votes, but if he doesn't get their sweat he's still in trouble.

there were many people I know who were committed Christians reluctantly saying they would support Rudy.

I think the lukewarm support of the evangelical community will actually help Rudy in the general election. The key to the 2008 election is the moderate independents. These people tend to be conservative on economic and security issues but liberal or libertarian in social issues. They tend to be very suspicious of any candidate too enthusiastically supported by the Evangelical Christians. I think for every hardline conservative vote that Rudy loses, he picks up 2 from the moderate independents.

I have a "George Allen" concern about Fred Thompson. Prior to the elections of 2006, I was an enthusiastic Allen supporter thinking this is our guy for 2008. I have this nagging doubt that Thompsom might not be ready for primetime just like Allen wasn't.

I weekly attend a conservative, reformed, evangelical church. Our pastor and his family definitely would NOT support Rudy but most of the congregation would even though Rudy is not anyone's first choice.