Crusader

FP Passport points out what some others had already realized - Rudy Giuliani's "weakness" as regards the Religious Right is somewhat of an illusion, because the religious right views fighting terrorism as a religious issue. In the view of many devout Christians, Islam is the Number 1 "existential threat to their faith and their way of life."

Rudy is the strongest, most aggressive candidate on terrorism, and that's not going to change - any other candidate who turns hawkish (e.g. McCain) will be associated with Bush's Iraq failure, while Rudy is "allowed" to be an uber-hawk because of his status as a 9/11 hero. The Religious Right realizes that Rudy is the only Republican candidate who can and use aggressive military force to defeat Islamic radicals, and will throw its weight behind him because Islam scares them more than abortion or gays. At least, that's the theory making the rounds.

Of course, a more cynical-minded person (such as myself) might interpret the Right's backing of Giuliani in a slightly different light. Christian conservatives are no dummies, and they know that Rudy's the only electable Republican in the race. Their only problem was that, if they supported him, it made it look like they wielded absolutely no power over the Republican party, because it proved that they'd vote for a pro-choice pro-gay Republican when push came to shove. Hence all this talk about a right-wing third-party candidacy. Now along comes this new idea, that "terrorism is a religious issue," and suddenly it's safe for the Right to vote for Giuliani again without looking like pushovers. Problem solved.

So there you have it. Rudy Giuliani, Republican nominee.