I am fairly inclined to think that it will be made clear to Rudy that if he ever hopes to get the nomination, he has to tow the line on certain conservative principles like second amendment rights and abortion.
Rudy’s position and statements in large part reflect that he was mayor of one of the largest, most diverse, and liberal cities in the country.
Time will tell.
If Rudy toes the conservative line, he’ll win in the General Election. If he goes Rockefeller Republican, he’ll lose.
The base has started scrutinizing him, and it ain’t good. His remarks about abortion or gun control(I can’t remember), last week, may well have sunk his campaign in the Red States.
If he has good campaign handlers, they can deflect and diminish the damage he caused, but I think he crippled his campaign.
“I am fairly inclined to think that it will be made clear to Rudy that if he ever hopes to get the nomination, he has to tow the line on certain conservative principles like second amendment rights and abortion.”
It is too late for that, if he had started “growing” a couple of years ago maybe it would have worked, but not now, and the position that FR has just taken is just the first of many body blows yet to come for him.
Someone mentioned the gun groups earlier and there are other powerful conservative groups that will start hardening their stance on him.
At some point when the right chooses a candidate, Rudy is going to discover the strength of the social conservative and pro gun institutional and grass roots capabilities.