"Religious conservative leaders are in disarray over the 2008 Republican field as deep divisions contribute to an unusually wide-open GOP race for the presidential nomination," per ABC News. "Faced with a Mormon from Massachusetts, a twice-divorced former New York mayor who backs abortion and gay rights, a senator who once called Robertson and the late Rev. Jerry Falwell the 'forces of evil' and a Hollywood actor who rarely goes to church, the once powerful coalition of Christian conservative leaders appears to be splintering."
"Just this week, three prominent Christian conservatives announced their support for different candidates."
"Paul Weyrich, builder of the Moral Majority group, said he would back former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, while Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., a former presidential candidate, endorsed Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., today."
"Perhaps most striking, however, is Robertson's decision to support former Mayor New York Rudolph Giuliani, a moderate on social issues who supports abortion rights."
"If evangelicals split their votes among three or four candidates -- Giuliani, as the moderate in the race and the national frontrunner -- wins even if he isn't one of them. What he really fears is the evangelical vote coalescing behind a single candidate...."
Christian Right Split Over GOP
Christian Conservatives in Disarray Over 2008 Republican Candidates
abcnews.go.com |
