Christian Right Seeks Rudy Alternative

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. (More Rudy Giuliani stories.)