Giuliani is a strong candidate and has a strong image when it comes to 9/11. Yet two issues remain a hinderance and concern for the conservatives… particularly Christian Conservatives. Two major mistakes can easily be made by either side for the upcoming election.
[MSNBC] OCEAN VIEW, N.J. — A day after Christian conservative leaders suggested they might support a third-party candidate if Giuliani got the Republican Party’s nomination Giuliani said he was not focusing the issue.
“I’m working on one party right now, the Republican Party,” he said after visiting patrons at Dino’s Seaville Diner. “This is a long primary, and once there are nominees on either side, we’ll figure that out.”
The campaign touted its conservative credentials in an e-mail to reporters today, citing his record in New York City on cutting taxes, lowering the abortion rate and eliminating pornography from Times Square. He even got a boost from the Club for Growth, which sent out a letter (in response to Steve Forbes’ letter to them in support of Giuliani) reaffirming their support for Giuliani’s fiscal discipline. The group had openly questioned Giuliani’s commitment to not raise Social Security taxes last week.
Although Giuliani was asked the question about social conservatives twice, he used each opportunity to address two other pertinent Republican issues — his fiscal conservatism and his electability against Hillary Clinton.
The first mistake is for the GOP and Giuliani is to be dismissive of the concerns. That is one quick way to set off the conservatives. They have been so instrumental from the Reagan era… to the Newt Revolution… to the election of George Bush as President. What caused problems in the party is that after helping win elections too often the candidates don’t vote like Republicans and often not even close to the conservative principles that made the party strong. Conservatives are obviously weary and skeptical of Republicans seeking office that try to sound conservative.
The second mistake that could occur is that Conservative Christians take their cause to a third party. Believe me I understand the temptation to make the GOP pay for ignoring Conservatives (or taking for granted) and appointing numerous rhino’s for the party to consider for office. However if the movement isn’t careful they will put into power the most liberal and anti-life candidates in the nation’s history.
The compromise: Giuliani is a strong candidate and can stand against the likes of Hillary. The solution is to put into office a VP who has solid pro-gun and pro-life credentials. In our estimation Mike Huckabee is a great candidate. He is solid, able to express ideas in interesting and refreshingly way. Conservatives know exactly where he stands.
Even Clinton, the master of politics, recognizes these qualities.
Leaders of the Christian conservative movement who are considering fielding a third-party candidate rather than backing any of the top four contenders for the Republican presidential nomination are overlooking a GOP hopeful who is steadily gaining support in the run-up to the Iowa caucuses, Mike Huckabee.
A Baptist minister who opposes abortion and gay marriage, Mr. Huckabee so far has failed to attract sufficient funds or support to hike him into the top tier of Republican candidates nationally. But growing evidence that conservatives are concerned about the choice shaping up in the Republican primary race, and his increasing popularity among voters in caucus states, offers the former Arkansas governor a rare opportunity to become a serious contender.
Mr. Huckabee has attracted notice for his memorable contributions to the Republican candidates’ television debates, and he also has received warm praise for his political abilities from two opposing masters of the political process, President Clinton and a former speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich.
Mr. Huckabee is the “only dark horse that’s got any kind of chance. … He’s the best speaker they’ve got,” Mr. Clinton, a fellow former governor of Arkansas, told George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday. Mr. Gingrich described the candidate on the same show as “very effective. … If Huckabee can find money, he will be dramatically competitive almost overnight. You have to like Mike.”
The party should be pushing Mike Huckabee for the second spot. To me this is a win win. You have a strong candidate that is electable. You have a VP put into position for the Presidential race in 8 years who couldn’t be more rock solid. Lets hope this idea garners some traction before any third party candidate is even considered.
