Ever since top-tier Christian Right leaders floated a plan to coalesce behind a third party candidate in the event that socially liberal Rudy Giuliani is the GOP nominee, God-o-Meter has been wondering: with all the talk of the declining influence of graying Christian Right titans like James Dobson, how much teeth does that threat really have? Will in-the-pews evangelicals and other conservative rank-and-file Christians follow the decrees of the political activists who purport to speak for them? A new Rasumussen poll suggests that many would.
The poll found that 27-percent of GOP voters say they’d support a third party candidate over Giuliani if the that candidate is backed by “Christian conservative leaders.” That would seem a death blow for Giuliani in the general election match-up, when, according to the poll, Hillary Clinton would take 46-percent of the vote, Giuliani would get 30-percent, and the third-party option would pick up 14-percent.
Rasumussen warns that early polls tend to exaggerate the eventual popularity of third party candidates. Still, in a close national election–and God-o-Meter realizes we haven’t seen one of those since 2004 and, before that, 2000–even a much smaller defection of pro-life voters could make it a lot easier for Clinton, or any other Democrat, to cruise to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
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posted October 8, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Guiliani is likely to be just like Bush when it comes to national security: much more talk than action. Under Bush the only Americans fighting terrorism are a handful of soldiers overseas. At home we’re more worried about tax cuts and the price of oil. That people think of Guiliani as strong on defense is laughable.
posted October 8, 2007 at 10:29 pm
It’s a good way to get the Democrate’s candidate in office, make a 3rd party and take votes from the Republicans and send them to the democrates. GO HILLARY!
I just love that the RR is nervous!
posted October 9, 2007 at 8:37 am
When President Bush talks about God he is ostracized for it. Now that a democrat is using God for political gain he is a hero. Shame on everyone who believes all of this. The way of the world is biblical. Israel will stand for it is of God. The surrounding nations will go into turmoil and the USA will stay out of it but will be affected. An oil crisis will form here crippling the armed service and the people then China will attack. If a democrat gets elected it is because that will be a party of watching and not going to Israel’s defense. Hillary offers nothing but socialism so those who support her by not reading up on her not so public thoughts better start doing their homework. Rudi Guiliani has many other good ideas beside the one topic the news media dwells on is the abortion rights and his personal life. Look into Hillary’s view on abortion and personal life!! More people were found dead and went to jail under the Clinton watch. I have not chosen a candidate as of yet to support but I am doing my homework on each and every one of them.
posted October 9, 2007 at 12:38 pm
RACHEL: Interesting point you make about “That people think of Guiliani as strong on defense is laughable.” Thing is, in a field whose other frontrunners–Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney–have just as little foreign policy experience, who’s gonna call Giuliani out? Wouldn’t that candidate just give Giuliani another opportunity to talk about how 9/11 provided him a first-rate education in dealing with Islamic extremists?
posted October 9, 2007 at 9:18 pm
The Democrate talking about god isn’t doing much for me, so he isn’t a hero in my book. I’m not of fan of religion worn on a sleeve, no matter what party they belong to.
posted December 11, 2007 at 11:30 am
I cannot vote for any of the canidates for either party. It seems like they are full of self interest and are trying to buy the presidency. We need someone who will not go back on their word. At this time I can only trust 3pepole me,myself and I. Then I keep my eye on them. We are in such a stage of dishonesty and greed in this country, if something isn’t done in this election I don’t think AMERICA will survive. I will become an independent from now on.