Christians Will Bolt GOP if Giuliani Leads
Sunday, September 30, 2007 10:45 PM
Christian conservatives are considering supporting a third-party candidate for
president if Rudy Giuliani wins the Republican nomination.
According to the New York Times, a coalition of influential Christian
conservatives opposes Giuliani because of his support for abortion rights.
The group includes Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family, Tony Perkins of the
Family Research Council, and direct-mail pioneer Richard Viguerie.
They, and others, gathered in Salt Lake City over the weekend for a meeting of
Council for National Policy. Participants in the meeting told the Times that
the group has not yet identified an alternative third party candidate, but the
group is largely united in its plans to bolt the GOP if Giuliani becomes its
presidential candidate.
Gary Bauer, a Christian conservative political advocate, told the Times that he
spoke to the group over the phone and urged it to proceed with caution. "I
can't think of a bigger disaster for social conservatives, defense
conservatives, and economic conservatives than Hillary Clinton in the White
House," Bauer said.
"But I do believe there are certain core issues for the Republican Party - low
taxes, strong defense and pro life - and if we nominate some who is hostile on
one of those three thing it will blow up the GOP."
In response to the Christian conservatives, a spokeswoman for the Giuliani
campaign provided a statement from Rep. Pete Sessions, a Texas Republican who
supports Giuliani, saying, "Conservatives are rallying around the one candidate
with the executive experience and proven leadership our country needs."