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.
Rudy may well get their votes, but if he doesn't get their sweat he's still in trouble.
I can just see it now, Rudy leading a vast horde of enthusiastic moderates.
Moreover, this business of "not knowing a person's positions" is, I think, a dodge. In fact, most of these pro-life people INDEED know Rudy's position and don't care if he can beat Hillary. And, we have poll after poll showing that some of these issues no longer have the clout they used to. We can deny it, but sometimes true is true.
Finally, I've stated many times that what people on the right are looking for is a FIGHTER. Right now, Rudy is perceived as that fighter. If someone else comes along, fine, but so far Newt ain't doin' it; and certainly Romney, by immediately backing off Coulter, didn't help himself. Fred Thompson, on the other hand, immediately came out and said Bush ought to pardon Libby. THIS is what people want, and even if they only get it on the 30% of the issues they agree with Rudy (or anyone else) on, they will be thrilled that SOMEONE will fight for something on our side. Republicans overlook this at their own peril.