Rudy Dominating GOP Field Among Conservatives, Religious Voters
We keep hearing that Rudy's views on gun-control, gay-rights and abortion will cause him to sink among conservative and religious voters, but this just isn't happening.
Indeed, a new Gallup poll released this morning shows the opposite: He's dominating the GOP field among these groups. What's more, he's tied for first with Fred Thompson -- among southern voters!
The poll finds:
* Rudy leads among conservative Republicans with 30%. Thompson is in second with 23%, John McCain in third with 15%, and Mitt Romney is in forth with 10%.
* Rudy leads among Republican voters who attend church weekly with 27%. Thompson is in second with 24%; McCain has 17%; and Romney has 9%. Rudy also leads among Republicans who attend church monthly. Not surprisingly, the catholic Rudy is very dominant among Catholic voters, but he's also leading among Protestants, too.
* Rudy is tied with Thompson among southern Republicans at 28%. McCain has 12% and Romney has 6%.
It's true that other polls have shown that many conservatives aren't familiar with Rudy's positions on issues of importance to them. But at some point, numbers like the above will have to be taken seriously.
Comments (15)
Kirk Tofte wrote on September 28, 2007 12:34 PM: What the continued support for Rudy by "values voters" really means is that morality doesn't matter to them one bit. John Dean more accurately identified these voters as "authoritarians." And, boy, does Rudy fit the bill for them in that category. If elected, he will be George W. Bush on steroids.
The only thing that can hurt Rudy among these people is if more leaders say (as James Dobson has) that they will not vote for Rudy under any circumstances. I wouldn't recommend holding your breath until that happens.
What the continued support for Rudy by "values voters" really means is that morality doesn't matter to them one bit. John Dean more accurately identified these voters as "authoritarians." And, boy, does Rudy fit the bill for them in that category. If elected, he will be George W. Bush on steroids.
The only thing that can hurt Rudy among these people is if more leaders say (as James Dobson has) that they will not vote for Rudy under any circumstances. I wouldn't recommend holding your breath until that happens.
Rudy is a lot worse than George W. Bush on steriods. Bush is a corporate fascist, while Rudy is a militaristic fascist. Scary doesn't even start to describe him...
Lynn wrote on September 28, 2007 12:47 PM:Exactly. Rudy appeals to the "end of civilization" meme. Anything else doesn't matter.
OxyCon wrote on September 28, 2007 12:49 PM:"Values voters" will have alot of splainin' to do if they choose Rudy as their candidate.
Rudy makes Bill Clinton look like a choir boy, and we all know how the "values voters" have been using Clinton as a punching bag for the last decade and a half.
Perhaps "values voters" should be renamed "hypocrite voters".
Actually, this makes perfect sense to me. Giuliani's public image is of the abrasive authoritarian. The caveman caucus eats that up.
stemper wrote on September 28, 2007 1:17 PM:What I've read from GOP pundits is that he satisfies evangelicals' desire to quash *perceived* islamic extremism. Seen in that light, his high poll numbers make perfect sense.
IMO, best to accept his inevitability and focus our attention on ways to defeat him. e.g. since moderates will likely decide '08 as they did '06, what will turn them off? His bye-bye to the Iraq Study Group? If so, how to get more than MoveOn ads to push this info to moderates? Hmmm...
sniflheim wrote on September 28, 2007 1:19 PM:"Values voters" will have alot of splainin' to do if they choose Rudy as their candidate.
Rudy makes Bill Clinton look like a choir boy, and we all know how the "values voters" have been using Clinton as a punching bag for the last decade and a half.
Perhaps "values voters" should be renamed "hypocrite voters".
Allow me to splain. Their ultimate value is authority. Rudy is their best hope to fulfill Sideshow Bob's promise to "rule you like a king."
Anonymous wrote on September 28, 2007 2:45 PM:"But at some point, numbers like the above will have to be taken seriously."
No, actually they don't. I will take them seriously after he wins Iowa or New Hampshire. Oh, wait, I guess that means never.
sullynyc wrote on September 28, 2007 3:10 PM:Ditto Kirk Tofte above. These conservatives just want daddy, no matter how effed up he is. They need someone who growls @ them to get the their lawn or clean their room.
Dean nails them correctly as Authoritarians. This is the most dangerous strain in any society.
Both of my gun-nut friends say they will never vote for Rudy Giuliani. Never.
Frankly wrote on September 29, 2007 1:16 AM:I find it quite interesting that over in this article http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2007/09/giuliani_cites_bible_on_person.php
where Giuliani is talking about his faith he makes this statement:
"And quite honestly, since Sept. 11, most of the time when we get on a plane, we talk to each other and just reaffirm the fact that we love each other," he said.
So, he's been married to Judith Nathan since 2003, but they've been calling each other to reaffirm their love since Sept. 11, 2001 when he was still married to his second wife.
I love how the "conservatives" invoke God when it suits them on the campaign trail but can ignore the laws of God when it comes to pleasures of the flesh.
Stephen H wrote on September 29, 2007 3:22 PM:The far right wants a dictator, and Rudy seems like their best shot.
Peter Principle wrote on September 30, 2007 1:21 AM:"The far right wants a dictator, and Rudy seems like their best shot."
Jeez, wasn't ONE Il Duce enough?
youngandopinionated wrote on September 30, 2007 12:05 PM:Everyone is complaining on how Rudy Giuliani makes clinton look like a choir boy, well, presidents are people important ones, thier social and married life has nothing to do with their presidental running or how well they would do in the shoes of Bush. As if you had cheated on your girlfriend/boyfriend affected how well you did at school or work . unless you were an emotional reck, no. Maybe im just being another dumb teenager, but i know that unless you are perfect and unless you have the answer to everything that wont affend one person get up and run for president. We do need someone to be president but our choices should not be affected by their social life. On the other hand if you beleive the way a president handles his social and married life mirrors his opinions and choices as well as his presidential substantials then i agree.
