In his press conference, Giuliani also gave a preview of his speech to the Family Research Council’s Value Voters’ Summit on Saturday.
“We look at the world in a much more similar way than people think,” he anticipated saying to that audience, echoing a theme he has emphasized throughout the campaign. While there are differences, he said, “I ask you to look at the whole candidate, the whole picture.”
Recognizing that some social conservatives will have to draw a line in the sand and not support him, he said, “I never ask people to give up their principles. I ask people, ‘Is there enough we agree on?'”
He added, “If somebody disagrees with me very strongly on a matter of principle, and they believe it should be a single-issue situation, I respect that. I’m not going to get every vote.”
Asked about reaching out to Southern evangelicals, Giuliani gave an indication of how he may draw a contrast with Romney.
“You don’t twist yourself up into a pretzel and change your positions,” he said, without mentioning his opponent’s name.
Eavangelicals, he said, were “the last people you want to do that with.”
“They are people who have great regard for a number of issues, but they also have great regard for integrity,” he said, and posited, “Maybe one of the reasons I’m doing so well in front of that group of voters is that I go to them and I’m honest with them.”
Ultimately, though,”What I really want is a relationship in which we respect each other, even if we disagree.� I respect very very much their participation in the process. I respect very much their position and the integrity of it. And I hope they respect the integrity of mine.”