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Christian Right Seeks Rudy Alternative

If the faithful can't find a candidate soon, he'll be the winner

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 1, 2007 5:17 PM CDT
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(Newser) – The religious right’s failure to coalesce around anyone in the GOP’s top presidential tier could throw the party’s nomination to socially liberal Rudy Giuliani, the Los Angeles Times reports. By favoring unrealistic candidates such as Brownback and Huckabee, and doubting the conservative zeal of Romney and Thompson, they leave the door open for the thrice-married former mayor. 

In fact, the current frontrunner isn't anathema to all in the splintered Christian camp: Some are jumping ship, willing to overlook Giuliiani's stand on abortion rights in light of his national security record, not to speak of his electibility. Evangelical leaders, already undermined by GOP sex scandals and a schism over whether to broaden their agenda, have not been able muster an effective coalition, and Rudy's likely to be the beneficiary.

Peggy Kane, left, of Fountain Valley. Calif., and Dorothy Wedel 0f Mission Viejo, Calif., hold up signs supporting Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani after he addressed the National Federation of Republican Women during their convention in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Peggy Kane, left, of Fountain Valley. Calif., and Dorothy Wedel 0f Mission Viejo, Calif., hold up signs supporting Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani after he addressed the National Federation...   (Associated Press)
Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani poses with servers at a Yountville, Calif., restaurant, Friday, Sept. 28. 2007. Giuliani made a quick campaign stop in this Napa Valley restaurant. (AP Photo/George Nikitin)
Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani poses with servers at a Yountville, Calif., restaurant, Friday, Sept. 28. 2007. Giuliani made a quick campaign stop in this Napa Valley restaurant. (AP Photo/George...   (Associated Press)
Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani speaks to law enforcement officials Friday, Sept. 14, 2007, at the Louisiana Sheriff's Association Building in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Tim Mueller)
Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani speaks to law enforcement officials Friday, Sept. 14, 2007, at the Louisiana Sheriff's Association Building in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Tim Mueller)   (Associated Press)
Republican presidential hopeful, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, pauses during his speech at the Latino Coalition 2007 Small Business Economic Summit, Tuesday, May 1, 2007 in Washington. Giuliani has focused on November 2008, and Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton in particular, from the outset of his White House bid...
Republican presidential hopeful, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, pauses during his speech at the Latino Coalition 2007 Small Business Economic Summit, Tuesday, May 1, 2007 in Washington. Giuliani...   (Associated Press)
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Some of the players toss around the idea of a third-party candidate
New York Times

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Politics • US

 
religious right • Mitt Romney • Sam Brownback • Rudy Giuliani • Fred Thompson • GOP • James Dobson • Mike Huckabee

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