Social conservative leaders take stock of GOP field

Tony Perkins, Mark Earley, and Gary Bauer gave their take on Giuliani's lead, the prospect of a Fred Thompson candidacy, and McCain's struggles.

from the April 12, 2007 edition

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And why is Sen. John McCain (R) of Arizona struggling in his second run for the presidency, despite his solid conservative voting record on social issues? It's all about a speech he delivered in 2000, in which he referred to two religious leaders – Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell – as "agents of intolerance."

Bauer says that comment was interpreted among social conservatives as an attack on them and their involvement in politics, not just on the two men named. "Obviously, he's more conservative on these social issues than Giuliani is, but there isn't anything comparable in Giuliani's rhetorical record where he went after Christian conservatives in a rhetorical way," Bauer says.

The excitement in the GOP over former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson's hint that he might still jump into the race demonstrates a yearning for stronger candidates that goes beyond the social conservative activist base of the party, the men said.

"I think people are looking for a candidate who can cast a broader vision for the country," said Perkins. "It's not Fred Thompson that's creating the excitement; it's the fact that somebody else may get into the race," he added. "There's this vacuum…."

So what are Americans looking for in their next president? "They're looking for somebody that resembles more clearly what they remember the Reagan era to be," Bauer says.

Mr. Earley believes the next president will need better communication skills. "Even those of us who love George Bush – that's just not one of his strengths," he says.

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