I was surprised to read this, and if it’s true, it is quite a get for the Giuliani camp:
Pat Robertson, one of the most influential figures in the social conservative movement, announced his support for Rudy Giuliani’s presidential bid this morning at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C
Robertson’s support was coveted by several of the leading Republican candidates and provides Giuliani with a major boost as the former New York City mayor seeks to convince social conservatives that, despite his positions on abortion and gay rights, he is an acceptable choice as the GOP nominee.
It also slows any momentum for Mitt Romney within the social conservative movement. Romney had recently secured the backing of conservative stalwarts Paul Weyrich and Bob Jones III — endorsements that seemed to strengthen his bid to become the electable conservative alternative to Giuliani. Romney had made no secret of his desire for Robertson’s endorsement and has to be disappointed this morning.
The other major effect of Robertson’s support for Giuliani is that it will quiet talk in social conservative circles that nominating Giuliani would lead “values voters” to abandon the Republican Party. The stamp of approval from Robertson should assuage the doubts of many (although certainly not all) of the rank-and-file social conservatives.
Hot Air also notes that the Politico is reporting the same thing, meaning that it’s true. I’m pleased that pro-life social conservatives are getting it into their heads that sitting out of the race or voting for a third party candidate should Giuliani win the nomination, which he probably will assuming nothing happens in the mean time that derails him, is essentially a vote for a Democratic president by proxy. Having an abortion-on-demand-for-anyone-of-any-age president would be even worse than having a social issues moderate in the White House. I’m as pro-life as you’re gonna get, and I would much rather have Rudy Giuliani in the White House than Hillary, Edwards, Obama, or any of the other Democratic candidates when it comes to this issue. I want a president who can and will reduce the number of abortions that take place in this country, and if a moderate can do that, then so be it.
