Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Falwell's Shadow Will Loom Large Over Tonight's Debate
The sudden passing of Dr. Jerry Falwell just hours before a debate that was already expected to center on the social issues that he helped make politically potent will add a significant amount of added attention to those issues.The shadow of Dr. Falwell will not lay comfortably on the shoulders of some of the so-called "front-runners," namely Mitt Romney and Rudy Guiliani.
Romney, who switched from being a long-time pro-choice candidate as a Massachusetts politician to being pro-life when he decided to run for president a few months ago, will have much to explain about his sudden change of opinion. Romney also has some explaining to do on other key social issues like gay rights and marriage.
Guiliani, who has flipped and flopped and squirmed over the abortion question to the best of his ability, only to decide finally to address it head on and go for the GOP nomination as pro-choice candidate -- in direct opposition to the party platform -- finds his campaign quickly losing steam. Guiliani also has a liberal stance on gay marriage.
On the other hand, Falwell's shadow will rest easily on the shoulders of Gov. Mike Huckabee, who has been unwaveringly pro-life for his entire career, is a fierce defender of traditional family values, and opposes gay marriage.
Any added emphasis on these issues in tonight's debate as a result of the Reverend Falwell's passing will only benefit Governor Huckabee, himself a former Baptist minister. Even before this, insiders were predicting Huckabee will get added attention tonight.
"Huckabee proved to be the most likable" in the first debate, GOP strategist Joe Gaylord said earlier today. "So he has the opportunity...to have more people pay attention to him."
BSR
