Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Giuliani and Evangelicals   [Peter Suderman]

At best of the web, James Taranto points to this Washington Post piece suggesting that Giuliani’s recently expanded lead over McCain is due to a newfound support from evangelical voters. Needless to say, this is at least a little bit surprising considering Giuliani’s social views.  There are all sorts of possible explanations for it.  Taranto gives us two useful ideas to start with: One is that the religious leaders don’t actually exercise as much power as we're constantly hearing.  Another is that the religious right is actually far more thoughtful in their political picks than they’re often given credit for.  As a variation on that, I’d suggest that the religious right just isn’t as monolithic a group as it’s often characterized. Suggestions that they always act in concert, lurching along like some troop of zombies, forget the myriad regional and personal differences amongst religious, socially conservative voters.  

And let me also suggest that part of Rudy’s appeal to evangelicals might have something to do with what at least appears to be a genuine willingness to take opposing views seriously.  In this clip from Hannity and Colmes, you can see Giuliani talking about his support for civil unions and gun control, and, unlike so many on the opposite side of the social issues debates, he doesn’t emanate disdain or condescension toward conservatives who disagree with him. The manner in which he presents these views just seems reasonable and respectful.  Even his abortion answer takes seriously the anti-abortion position—he says he “hates” abortion, would advise someone against it, and touts his record pushing down the abortion numbers. If Rudy wins religious/socially conservative voters, it will be by being fair toward their views, not bowing to them. 

He also manages to project a pretty convincing mix of humility and confidence when discussion terrorism. When Hannity presents him with George Will’s “seven minute question" which deals with his preparededness for an attack, Giuliani looks almost taken aback, and says with a bit of hesitation, “Um, yeah, I’m as ready as anyone could be.”  But he follows this up with clear, tough language about the war on terror: “We’re at war. And we’re at war because they’re at war with us… They [terrorists] want to come here and kill us.”

The public persona he’s created—at once tough, fair, humble, dedicated, competent, and hard working—is rather potent, and that’s why his favorability ratings are so high across the political spectrum.  Who knows if this will hold up? After all, his social views aren’t nearly as well known as some think. But for now, it’s clearly quite effective. 

02/28 04:41 PMShare