[Land said] that evangelicals believe the former New York City mayor showed a lack of character during his divorce from his second wife, television personality Donna Hanover. "I mean, this is divorce on steroids," Land said. "To publicly humiliate your wife in that way, and your children. That's rough. I think that's going to be an awfully hard sell, even if he weren't pro-choice and pro-gun control."
This would be a bigger problem for Giuliani if his competition didn't include the twice-married John McCain - whom influential evangelical Christian leader James Dobson has called a non-starter - and Mitt Romney, whose Mormon faith is an obstacle to many evangelical Christians.
You know, it's just a thought, but as long as conservative Christian leaders like Land and Dobson are eager to tell us who they can't support, perhaps it is time they looked at the GOP field of candidates, presumptive candidates and rumored possible future presidential candidates and also told us who they do like and could support. Who would be on that list?
Being a Southern Baptist, and having spoken to a number of them about Romney, this is the feeling that I'm getting:
While many evangelicals might have a problem with Romney's faith, his conservative characteristics, and his values, and the values that the Mormon church is known for (personal responsibility, self-discipline, and the priority of putting family first), overcomes misgivings that many may have with the church's doctrines.
Although McCain has tried to repair bridges with evangelicals, many still don't trust him. Giuliani's refusal to rethink his positions on issues that evangelicals believe are important, plus his personal lifestyle, plus the fact that he's a Yankee, are going to keep many, if not most, evangelicals, conservative Democrats, and Southern social conservatives from supporting him.
I agree with you that Thompson could enter the race if McCain falters, but I think that McCain would wait so late before he actually pulls out, that it would be too late for Thompson to enter and have a realistic chance of winning.
Posted by: Davy | March 8, 2007 7:48 AM | Permalink to Comment