Abortion
The Washington Times on Monday following the annual Republican National Committeemeeting examined if the party is moving away from its conservativestance on issues like abortion. "Evangelical and pro-life Catholics area critical part of the GOP's electoral coalition," and it "remains tobe seen whether the GOP is moving away from them," James Bopp, anattorney who represents Wisconsin Right to Life,said, adding, "Whether the GOP is doing so will be determined by who isnominated for president." Rhode Island RNC member Robert Manning saidthe party is moving away from some social and religious issues, addingthat it is a tactical move. "There's an awareness among the nationalcommittee that the issues which are of dominant importance to a broadsection of voters are tending toward national security and economicsand less the social-religious issues that were dominant in priorcampaigns," he said.
Pregnancy
According to the Times, someRepublican officials at the meeting -- which ended on Saturday inWashington, D.C. -- said they wonder what will happen to the party'selectoral coalition if former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination and supports abortion rights, becomes the party's nominee.
"NominatingGiuliani would seriously jeopardize the support of evangelicals andpro-life Catholics and would trigger a fight within the GOP on thepro-life plank and other matters related to social issues that wouldcripple the party," Bopp -- who recently signed on as an adviser to thecampaign of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who also is running for the Republican nomination -- said.
Gary Jones, chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party,said the party's base likely will remain intact because whether thenominee is Giuliani, Romney or "former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, hewould be more attractive to social and religious conservatives than anylikely Democratic nominee."
Saul Anuzis, chair of the Michigan Republican Party,said if Giuliani won the nomination, it would not threaten the supportof religious and social conservatives because they understand the mostimportant issue is who the president appoints to federal judgeships. Headded that Giuliani has assembled conservative advisers on judicialappointments (Hallow, Washington Times, 8/6). In relatednews, Giuliani is expected to address his stance on abortion rightsduring a two-day campaign through Iowa this week, the New York Daily News reports (Saltonstall, New York Daily News, 8/6).
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