Two Sides to Rudy's Robertson Endorsement
Pat Robertson, the influential founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network, announced his support for Rudy Giuliani in Washington this morning. The endorsement could be a boon for Giuliani in Iowa, in particular, as he tries to ingratiate himself with social conservative voters opposed to his views on abortion and gay rights.
"With all the crises that confront our nation and the world, we need a leader with a bold vision who is not afraid to tackle the challenges ahead," Robertson said during a press conference at the National Press Club. He said Giuliani has "proven time and time again that he is a social conservative."
The Robertson endorsement - in as much as individual political endorsements sway voters -- could play well in Iowa and South Carolina, but isn't expected to have the same weight in New Hampshire. In fact, it could have converse implications in the Granite State, where GOP voters tend to look for their candidates to be conservative on fiscal matters but to have a hands-off view about abortion and gay marriage.
Andy Smith, director of the UNH Survey Center, said he doesn't believe Robertson's support for Rudy will resonate with New Hampshire voters.
"I don’t think it’s going to make a blip," he said. "Those things, I don’t think, are going to get too much play here mainly because there’s not a strong social conservative network."
There is another rub for Rudy in trotting out Robertson, a matter his opponents would be wise to exploit. With 9/11 as Giuliani's key selling point, someone is bound to harken back to Robertson's post Sept. 11 remarks, blaming abortion, pornography, the occult and more for causing God to allow the attacks.
Today, Robertson said he believed the threat of Islamic terrorists was the "overriding issue" for the next election, as well cutting government waste and the selection of social conservatives for federal courts.
Robertson ran for president in 1988, and came in second in Iowa, behind George H.W. Bush. This year, he sends a message to evangelical voters that Rudy is OK by him and that a third-party candidate need not enter the race.
"Having him aboard gives us a great deal of confidence," Giuliani said. "He has tremendous insights into what the main issues are and how they can be dealt with, his advice is invaluable and his friendship even more invaluable."
The endorsement comes on the same day as Sen. Sam Brownback endorsed John McCain, and a day after Paul Weyrich backed Mitt Romney.
We know that evangelical voters helped George W. Bush win a second term, but with three of their national leaders backing different candidates is this a sign that this critical GOP voting bloc is fragmented?
(JENNIFER SKALKA and MATTHEW BERGER)