The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Rudy and the Religious Right

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A very interesting take by Daniel Henninger in today's Wall Street Journal discusses Rudy's dialogue and potential broader meeting of the minds with the religious Right. Meanwhile Sen. Brownback is meeting with Rudy. A Brownback endorsement of Rudy wouldn't be quite as shocking for some as Pat Toomey (Club for Growth) coming out for Huckabee, but close. Or would it? After the animosity incurred during the race, Brownback seems unlikely to embrace Romney. That leaves Thompson, McCain, Huckabee and Rudy. Clearly, Brownback, who is looking at a run for Governor in 2010, wants to be on the winning side in the GOP race so he does himself no good by choosing an unlikely winner. Since pro-life figures like Gov. Perry and Tommy Thompson went before him, Brownback's endorsement would not be unprecedented. Brownback's public statement that he wanted to hear Rudy's views on judges and partial birth abortion directly from him indicate that the process started at the FRC may be under way -- an effort to persuade establishment Republicans with solid pro-life views that Rudy positions on actual issues are not antithetical to their interests. He is making some progress with certain folks in the pundit group that have been most outspoken against his run (although they are hardly convinced and may never be), but Brownback's nod would be a breakthrough. All that said, I'm not sure the Rudy people are thrilled Brownback talked publicly about this meeting and this whole thing may come to nothing.

topics:
Abortion