Why and How Rudy Giuliani Can Win Over Evangelicals

In the 2004 presidential campaign, a Northeastern, blue-state, former Catholic altar boy was unable to comfortably explain his pro-choice position on abortion and his have-it-both-ways approach to same-sex relationships�"a difficulty that contributed to his defeat in November.

Today a Northeastern, blue-state, former Catholic school boy running for president is struggling to comfortably explain his pro-choice position on abortion and have-it-both-ways positions on same-sex relationships.

This time, however, the candidate seems to have a plan. And it might work.

2004 All Over Again?

In the Republican Party debate in New Hampshire in early June, Rudy Giuliani faced a question that began by describing how a high-up in the Catholic community was peeved about the candidate’s position on abortion. Democratic candidate John Kerry faced an almost identical question in his final debate with George W. Bush back in October 2004. Take a look at the responses.

Giuliani’s answer�"only partially audible because lightning bolts were raining down on the debate hall�"included these words:

“I respect, you know, the opinion of Catholic�"(off mike)�"religious leaders of all kinds. Religion is very important to me, it’s a very important part of my life. But ultimately, as a�"(off mike)�"I’ve been in public life most of my life and taken oaths of office to enforce the law, I’ve got to make the decisions that I think are the right ones in a country like ours. And my view on abortion is that it’s wrong, but that ultimately government should not be enforcing that decision on a woman.”

Kerry’s answer in 2004�"fully audible with no divine, natural, or merely coincidental intervention�"included this:

“I respect their views. I completely respect their views. I am a Catholic. And I grew up learning how to respect those views. But I disagree with them, as do many. I believe that I can’t legislate or transfer to another American citizen my article of faith. What is an article of faith for me is not something that I can legislate on somebody who doesn’t share that article of faith. I believe that choice is a woman’s choice. It’s between a woman, God and her doctor. And that’s why I support that.”

Giuliani was practically channeling Kerry.

It’s been the same story on same-sex marriage. In 2004 Kerry tried to articulate a position against same-sex marriage but for civil unions. In that same debate with Bush, Kerry said, “The president and I share the belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. I believe that.” He then added, “But I also believe that because we are the United States of America, we’re a country with a great, unbelievable Constitution, with rights that we afford people, that you can’t discriminate in the workplace. You can’t discriminate in the rights that you afford people. You can’t disallow someone the right to visit their partner in a hospital. You have to allow people to transfer property, which is why I'm for partnership rights and so forth.”

Giuliani has similarly struggled to offer a straightforward position on this issue. In the past he declared that he supports civil unions for gays and lesbians, but in response to New Hampshire’s recent civil-union legislation Giuliani’s campaign told the New York Sun this: “Mayor Giuliani believes marriage is between one man and one woman. Domestic partnerships are the appropriate way to ensure that people are treated fairly. In this specific case the law states same sex civil unions are the equivalent of marriage and recognizes same sex unions from outside states. This goes too far and Mayor Giuliani does not support it.” It’s exactly the on-the-one-hand kind of position on a culture war issue that religious conservatives blasted Kerry for in 2004.

Yet Giuliani has a good chance to win over evangelicals.

The Giuliani Plan

The key is access. Because of the former mayor’s image as a 9/11 hero, he has almost unlimited access to the right audiences (pun intended). Giuliani can go directly to religious conservatives�"a pilgrimage of the political kind�"and make the case that his actions after 9/11 and conservative stance on economic issues should decide the campaign. And he’s been savvy enough to be a Daniel by going into the lion’s dens of evangelicals.

That’s precisely what he did when he visited Pat Robertson’s Regent University on Tuesday. There, he largely stuck to his tough-on-terrorism script�"hitting one of his favorite lines, that America’s ideals “come from God”�"and emphasized his economic views. He also made time for an interview that will appear in coming days on Robertson’s Christian Broadcast Network program The 700 Club. When Giuliani was done he received a standing ovation. On May 11 Giuliani went to Houston Baptist University, where he also was warmly received. Such receptions are enough to make the Kerry campaign roll over in their political graves.

In 2004 Kerry decided only late in the campaign that a high-profile address at a religious institution would be politically valuable. And when he did he was rebuffed by at least one evangelical outlet. Fuller Seminary president Richard J. Mouw said in September 2004 that his institution had been contacted by the Kerry campaign but that Fuller decided not to allow the candidate to speak on campus. Kerry eventually gave a speech on faith nine days before the election at a campaign stop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida�"a setting symbolically and politically miles from the locations that Giuliani has already visited.

Making pilgrimages to speak before religious voters is an important part of what my colleague at the University of Illinois, Kevin Coe, and I call the God Strategy in American politics. For Giuliani these pilgrimages are an attempt to present himself as embracing of faith as well as unafraid to go directly to those who might hold differing views.

It’s an approach that harkens to John F. Kennedy’s famous 1960 address before conservative Protestant clergy about his Catholic and political beliefs. In the current campaign there has been much chatter about whether Mitt Romney should deliver a similar kind of address on his Mormon beliefs. While he’s thinking about it, Giuliani is on the move. It’s his best chance to win over evangelicals.