So far, it looks as if none of the Republican candidates have appealed so far to the Conservative Christians that make up the “Religious Right.” The choice is extremely tough for those in the Religious Right. Because the choice is a candidate that promotes the social values most important to them or a candidate who has the greatest chance of defeating the Democrats in 2008 Presidential Elections. The question is who will be their choice?
Currently, the strongest candidate so far representing the Republican Party is the former mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani’s career was skyrocketed during his handling of the incidents that have transpired after September 11, 2001. For anybody that has been keeping track of politics let alone the news, many can say that Rudy Giuliani is by no means a mainstream Republican. It looks as if Rudy Giuliani is one of the more liberal Republicans. Because of that, social conservatives find it difficult to endorse Rudy Giuliani.
The reason being is that Rudy Giuliani supports gay rights and abortion rights. Plus there are news reports about Rudy Giuliani being divorced a couple of times. Many Conservative Christians do not think of Rudy Giuliani as a viable option. Social conservatives such as the Religious Right tend to vote Republican during Presidential Elections.
Southern Baptist Convention isn’t convinced that Giuliani’s the candidate that’s going to represent them.
The president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Richard Land stated: “Once a social conservative becomes competitive in the polls, or comes within striking distance of being competitive in the polls, you are going to see Republican primary voters dropping off Giuliani like fleas off a dead dog.”
Currently, members that make up the Religious Right are gathering for the Values Voter Summit this weekend in Washington DC organized by the Family Research Council. The president of the FRC calls this a fight that is raging for America’s soul.
It is said that the last two elections, the votes from Evangelical Christians driven by topics such as abortion, gay marriage, and stem research were instrumental to George W. Bush’s victory.
Still, it looks that they may not be able to influence the White House unless they can find a successor to George W. Bush who will represent their values.
But the choice remains: someone to represent their values or someone who can beat the Democrats? They do not have that much time to decide as seventy-five days remain until the primary elections.
Republican representative of Ohio Jean Schmidt says: “When we get through the primaries, stand behind individual who is at least the better alternative than we will get from the other side.”