Rudy Giuliani Leading the Polls: Can a Pro-Choice Candidate Win the Republican Nomination?

A USA Today Gallup Poll for May 4-6, 2007 reports that Rudy Giuliani has a 61 percent Favorable rating. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is leading the Republicans and the Democrats.

Republican John McCain has a 50 percent Favorable rating and is followed by former Republican senator Fred Thompson (27 percent Favorable) and Governor Mitt Romney (24 percent Favorable). Law and Order's Fred Thompson has not officially thrown his hat into the ring.

Democrat Hillary Clinton has a 50 percent Favorable rating per the Gallup Poll. Senator Clinton ties with Senator Barak Obama, also at a 50 percent Favorable rating. They are followed by Democrats John Edwards and Al Gore, both at 49 percent Favorable.

When asked "Which of the following candidates would you be most likely to support for the Republican nomination for President in the year 2008?", Republicans polled reported 34% would support Giuliani, 20% would support John McCain and 13% would support Fred Thompson. Giuliani, McCain and Thompson are currently in the lead on that question. Seven percent polled said they would most likely support Mitt Romney.

Does Giuliani's 61 percent Favorable Rating demonstrate that the historically pro-life Republican Party is weighing national defense and Islamic terrorism more heavily than its traditional anti-abortion ideology?

Giuliani is pro-choice. At the California Republican debate, Giuliani gave an answer that may not have made many ultra-conservatives happy. When asked about abortion at the recent Republican debate, Giuliani said,

"This is a very, very difficult issue of conscience for many, many people. In my case, I hate abortion. I would encourage someone to not take that option. When I was mayor of New York City, I encouraged adoptions. Adoptions went up 65, 70 percent. Abortions went down 16 percent.

But ultimately, since it is an issue of conscience, I would respect a woman's right to make a different choice.