Will religious voters abandon the GOP for Hillary if Rudy is the GOP nominee?
How are religious voters likely to respond to a religious believer who is also a social liberal? Roman Catholics, with their strong commitment to the poor, should be open to a Democratic message of economic justice. A majority of Christians, Catholic and Protestant, support the goals of broader health coverage and increased humanitarian aid abroad. But the most intensely religious Americans of both traditions also tend to be the most conservative on moral issues such as abortion. And it is hard to imagine that these voters will be successfully courted by the most comprehensively pro-choice presidential candidate in American history.That might change under one circumstance: if Rudy Giuliani were the Republican nominee. Whatever Giuliani promised concerning the appointment of conservative judges, a pro-choice Republican nominee would blur the contrast between the parties on abortion. And between two pro-choice options, a larger number of religious voters might support the one with a stronger emphasis on poverty -- because, after all, Jesus did have a lot to say about how we treat the poor.
I think he's right.
Most religiously serious voters choose the Republican Party right now because of abortion and other social issues, even though they have trouble with the Republicans economic policies. After all, what's more important: an increase in the minimum wage, or stopping this? (Warning: Graphic image of the results of abortion contained in the link.) The answer should be obvious to anyone with a conscience.
But if the GOP nominates someone who seems to favor the legality of said procedure, a large number of traditional voters that the Republicans count on will likely defect to Hillary (or whoever the Democrats nominate, although Hillary is looking more and more inevitable). An additional number, like myself, won't go to the Democrats because of their hedonistic and socialistic tendencies, but at the same time won't reward the Republican Party for their nomination of someone who is so out of touch with the mainstream of the Republicans on this issue. So, a third party or write-in vote seems the likely way to go for many of us.
The GOP will see a large number of defections from social conservatives if Rudy is the nominee. The gamble they're taking is that they'll pick up enough non-traditional Republican voters to make up the difference. My guess is they won't.
Hat Tip: The Corner