by Mark Silva
Abortion plays an unavoidable role in any Republican primary election, particularly elections like those coming this winter: In which Rudy Giuliani, the party’s front-running candidate for president, supports abortion rights for women.
Yet, as a measure of how pragmatic Republicans may be willing to be next year – looking for a White House winner who may not align with them on social issues that matter – Giuliani is running well among a traditionally conservative Republican constituency, Florida’s.
In preparation for tonight’s debate of the Republican candidates in St. Petersburg, Opinion Research Corp. interviewed 1,099 Floridians, including 300 who say they are likely to vote in the Sunshine State’s Jan. 29 primary election.
Only 19 percent of the likely Republican voters surveyed said they believe that abortion should be legal “under any circumstances, and 61 percent said it should be legal “under only certain circumstances.’’ Another 19 percent said it should be illegal always. Just 2 percent voiced no opinion.
And in this same Nov. 25-26 survey, 38 percent of the likely Republican primary voters voiced a preference for Giuliani. His closest rival in Florida: Former Gov. Mitt Romney, with 17 percent. Sen. John McCain draws just 11 percent.
Giuliani also supports gay rights – though stops short of endorsing gay marriage. Among the Republican voters surveyed in Florida, 77 percent said marriage between homosexuals should not be recognized as valid under the law, with the same rights as traditional marriage. Just 19 percent said it should be.
On the one matter which the former New York mayor has made his signature issue, Giuliani’s strength in the fourth-largest state is measured by this gauge: Far and away the majority of likely Republican voters in Florida – 53 percent – saying he would best handle terrorism as president. McCain drew just 19 percent on this score.
And on the question of which Republican stands the best chance of beating the Democratic nominee in 2008, Giuliani was a runaway favorite: 61 percent.
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Comments
Among the Republican voters surveyed in Florida, 77 percent said marriage between homosexuals should not be recognized as valid under the law, with the same rights as traditional marriage. Just 19 percent said it should be.
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I would have used a different word than "just". Nineteen percent of backwards Florida conservatives is huge on an issue like that. Jerry Falwell is squirming in his grave hearing a number in the double digits from his flock.
Posted by: Bruce Y | November 28, 2007 11:49 AM
What it comes down to is this: If you don't have a president who is willing to confront terrorism headon and call it what it is, none of the other issues matters. If you are the victim of a terrorist attack, you are dead and very possibly so are all of your loved ones. This is Giuliani's strong card and he is wise to play it. It would surely place him in the catbird seat in a November election against Hillary or Obama, both of whom will be weak in national defense. Their approaches? In event of an attack, call a meeting to discuss it.
Posted by: Angelo | November 28, 2007 12:05 PM
Angelo:
How do you know how Hillary or Obama would react in case of an attack?? What did Rudy do?? He wandered around the streets of NYC because there was no emergency communications center for him to go to - it blew up with the WTC. The same center that everyone told him NOT to put back in the WTC.
GW Bush did not call a meeting to look into the August, 2001 PDB about Bin Laden flying planes into buildings. He ignored it.
What would have happened if he would have called a meeting to look into that?
Posted by: BobinATL | November 28, 2007 12:14 PM
Angelo is a perfect example of the cowardly Republican approach to terrorism. He's willing to sacrifice any freedom, any principal, for physical safety. He wants Daddy to save him from the monsters.
Whatever happened to, "Give me Liberty, or Give Me Death"?
Posted by: Patrick Henry | November 28, 2007 12:48 PM
Bobin, read statements by Clinton and Obama when asked questions about what they would do in event of an attack. Hillary's basic response about everything is to impanel a committee. Obama, on
the question, said he'd check to see if the first responders were on the job. Message to O: first responders are local, not the president's responsibility. Hey, did you know that George Bush is not running for reelection?
Posted by: Angelo | November 28, 2007 12:53 PM
The only thing I know about Guiliani beyond his total screw up on 9/11 is that he banned ferrets as pets in NYC.
And oh yeah, the cross-dressing and the many wives.
Posted by: Cheryl | November 28, 2007 1:38 PM
Hey, did you know that George Bush is not running for reelection?
Posted by: Angelo | November 28, 2007 12:53 PM
We know this clown is running:
"What did Rudy do?? He wandered around the streets of NYC because there was no emergency communications center for him to go to - it blew up with the WTC. The same center that everyone told him NOT to put back in the WTC."
Posted by: BobinATL | November 28, 2007 12:14 PM
Posted by: jethro | November 28, 2007 1:45 PM
Sherlock Silva is about 6 months late discovering this.
Republicans, even pro-life Republicans, would be happy to explain why they're supporting a pro-abortion Republican for president.
If Mr. Silva ever bothered to talk to Republican voters, he might discover what's on their mind. He won't, of course. He and the DNC Swamp are too busy analyzing Oprah's impact on the Dem race.....
Posted by: Bruce | November 28, 2007 1:56 PM
Giuliani - 9/11..blah blah blah 9/11 blah blah Islamofascism blah blah 9/11 blah blah Islamofascism blah blah 9/11....now where's my girlfriend?....I mean wife.
Posted by: John E | November 28, 2007 1:56 PM
At least the alleged "Patrick Henry" here admits he would rather die (or at least innocenet Americans other than him) at the hands of terrorists than prevent them from committing their terrorist act. It's about time one of you Loons admit to what I have been saying for years. Your Loons would rather have 150,000 Americans die in a dirty bomb than torture a terrorist to hopefully prevent it from happening.
Posted by: John D | November 28, 2007 2:09 PM
No John D, I won't surrender my liberties out of fear, like you will. I do not believe that liberty makes us weak like you do.
I'd rather be dead than live in a police state. I'd rather be dead than be a torturer.
You however seem to admit that you would willfully allow any right to be dismantled to try and save your life. Does death scare you that much?
You'd rather have 300 million americans live in a continent sized maximum security prison than stand up like a man and accept a few risks in the name of liberty.
Posted by: AJF | November 28, 2007 2:27 PM
At least the alleged "Patrick Henry" here admits he would rather die (or at least innocenet Americans other than him) at the hands of terrorists than prevent them from committing their terrorist act. It's about time one of you Loons admit to what I have been saying for years. Your Loons would rather have 150,000 Americans die in a dirty bomb than torture a terrorist to hopefully prevent it from happening.
Posted by: John D | November 28, 2007 2:09 PM
...and your going to vote for a guy (Giuliani) who did a couple of photo-ops and TV interviews on 9/11 and now he claims to be tough on terror?...pleeeease!
http://rudy-urbanlegend.com/
Giuliani is a fraud and I can only hope that the Republicans are dumb enough to nominate him.
Posted by: Billy Zoom | November 28, 2007 2:29 PM
JOHN D is a tool, obviously. He doesn't believe any of what he writes.
EX:
WHO took away more of your freedoms, terrorists, or YOUR OWN GOVT?
EX:
Bush made it so we can't even hear the Who sing "who the fuck are you" on radio anymore! This is HITLER bullshit, and John D LOVES Hitler and Stalin and Bush and Rudy.
Yeah right, John D.
YOu're almost as fake as Rudy.
TELL US you like that Rudy was convicted of violating the US Constitution over 100 times!
Posted by: cxb | November 28, 2007 2:38 PM
It's about time that John D Loon, admit to what we have been saying for years. You would rather torture 1.61 (CIA) billion Muslims before getting anything of substance on an attack that would have 150,000 Americans die in a dirty bomb.
Oh that's us answering the absurd with the absurd. We know that's why you like torture. It's absurd, and you like the absurd.
Posted by: Loons | November 28, 2007 3:20 PM
Hitler and Stalin were both Socialists who knew economic control prohibits individual freedom. Governments spending your money prevents your options.
Rudy instituted police policies that turned NY from a crime haven to the safest large city in the country. BC took credit, of course.
Posted by: whatnow | November 28, 2007 3:22 PM
John D-
No amount of torture can bring Liberty.
Life without Liberty is torture.
Posted by: Patrick Henry | November 28, 2007 3:42 PM
Hitler and Stalin were both Socialists who knew economic control prohibits individual freedom. Governments spending your money prevents your options.
Rudy instituted police policies that turned NY from a crime haven to the safest large city in the country. BC took credit, of course.
Posted by: whatnow | November 28, 2007 3:22 PM
Are you comparing Giuliani to Hitler and Stalin?
Giuliani INCREASED New York City Government spending during his time as Mayor from about 31 Billion dollars in 1994 to 40.5 Billion dollars in 2001.
http://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/
Posted by: AJF | November 28, 2007 3:51 PM
Republicans, even pro-life Republicans, would be happy to explain why they're supporting a pro-abortion Republican for president.
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No need to explain, we know why. They have NO priciples. They would sell out every fetus in the country because of their cowardice and fear.
Posted by: Bruce Y | November 28, 2007 8:48 PM