Romney Suspends Campaign

If Huckabee left the presidential race, I predicted that Huckabee voters would be more likely to give their votes to Romney than McCain. However, Romney's announcement that he's putting his campaign on hold throws a monkey wrench in the works.

Many, many conservatives don't like McCain. McCain appeals strongly to independents, undecideds and even liberals. The press likes him.

I think this is one of his problems.

When liberals and the press have nice things to say about you and your record, conservatives take a few steps back and prepare to run in the other direction.

Huckabee said that he would vote for McCain should it come to that. This may sway some Huckabee supporters to support McCain down the road should he win the nomination.

Personally, Hillary and Barack are what we're working against. I disagree with those Republicans who are saying they will campaign for Hillary or Obama if McCain wins the nomination. McCain may not be our ideal but another Hillary or Barack Obama he is not.

The GOP Candidates on the Right to Life

Last night's CNN/Politico debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, allowed moderators another opportunity to quiz the candidates about several issues including Supreme Court appointments. Anderson Cooper specifically asked the candidates what their opinion was of Reagan appointee, Sandra Day O'Connor. Justice O'Connor turned out to be far from the strict constructionist Reagan and others thought her to be. She repeatedly voted to uphold abortion on demand in her later years on the Court.

This comes straight from the CNN Transcript where Anderson Cooper asks:

This one goes to Governor Huckabee. On July 6, 1981, which is actually Nancy Reagan's birthday, Ronald Reagan wrote in his diary about Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. And the Reagan Library has graciously allowed us to actually have the original Reagan diary right here on the desk. I'm a little too nervous to actually even touch it, but that is the Ronald Reagan's original diary.

And in it, he wrote by his hand, he said, "Called Judge O'Connor in Arizona and told her she was my nominee for Supreme Court. Already the flak is starting, and from my own supporters. Right-to-life people say she's pro-abortion. She declares abortion is personally repugnant to her. I think she'll make a good justice."

That's Ronald Reagan's words from his own book. Governor Huckabee, was she the right choice?

HUCKABEE: History will have to determine that, and I'm not going to come to the Reagan Library and say anything about Ronald Reagan's decisions. I'm not that stupid. If I was, I'd have no business being president.

I think we need to talk about why the issue of right-to-life is important. For many of us, this is not a political issue; this is an issue of principle and conviction. And it goes to the heart of who we are as a country.

If we value each other as human beings and believe that everybody has equal worth, and that that intrinsic value is not affected by net worth, or ancestry, or last name, or job description, or ability, or disability, then the issue of the sanctity of human life is far bigger than just being anti-abortion.

It's about being pro-life and exercising that deep conviction held by our founding fathers that all of us are equal and no one is more equal than another, recognizing that once we ever decide that some people are more equal or less equal than others, then we start moving that line, and it may include us some day.

And that's why for many of us -- and me included. Let me be very clear: I'm pro-life. I value every human being. And I would always make every decision always on the side of life every time I could, without equivocation.

COOPER: Yes or no, Congressman Paul, was Sandra Day O'Connor the right choice? PAUL: I wouldn't have appointed her, because I would have looked for somebody that I would have seen as a much stricter constitutionalist.

COOPER: Senator McCain?

MCCAIN: I'm proud of Sandra Day O'Connor as a fellow Arizonan. And my heart goes out to her family in that situation that they have today. And I'm proud of her.

The judges I would appoint are along the lines of Justices Roberts and Alito, who have a proven record of strict interpretation of the Constitution of the United States of America. I'm not going to second-guess President Reagan.

COOPER: Governor Romney? ROMNEY: I would approve justices -- I would have favored justices like Roberts and Alito, Scalia and Thomas. I like justices that follow the Constitution, do not make law from the bench. I would have much rather had a justice of that nature.

COOPER: We're going to pause for a quick commercial break. The debate continues when we return.

Florida

I have to admit, I was a bit surprised that McCain picked up the endorsements he did. I was certain Romney would get the major endorsements of Governor Crist and the popular Florida Senator Mel Martinez.

Still the race for the nomination is going to be close no matter what. Romney and McCain are still polling, for the most part, within a few percentage points of each other. Super Tuesday will tell us much, much more about where we are headed with a Republican nominee.

What about Huckabee? I still really like Huckabee and expect that he will pull in a significant number of votes on Tuesday. Voters for Huckabee are voting for a man who is genuine and truly stands for conservative, social justice issues. If you want to see compassionate conservatism and what religious conservatives really believe about the social issues of our day you just have to look at Huckabee's stand on issues such as abortion and the poor.

Romney and McCain look to be the top dogs in this race but Huckabee is still a force to be reckoned with.

Commentary on Huckabee from Catholic Online

Excellent commentary at Catholic Online from Saturday, the 26th, on Mike Huckabee's presidential run. Even though Huckabee is a former Southern Baptist minister, he appeals to many Catholics because of his social conservatism on issues such as abortion and his social justice approach to other issues-- such as how America should help the poor.

Unfortunately, Huckabee is being branded by the press and many in the Republican Party: he's not a "true" conservative or shrill voices insist he will turn our nation into a theocracy (which is ludicrous). All of this simply because he is an Evangelical Christian who doesn't always walk lock-step with the Republican establishment.

Evangelicals like Huckabee for much the same reasons as Catholics. The Republican Party needs to listen to what both groups are saying. They may not make up the whole of the party but, come election time, a defection could make a significant dent.

Arizona Right to Life PAC Endorses Huckabee

Today, Mike Huckabee picked up the endorsement of Arizona Right to Life PAC. From the Huckabee campaign press release:

According to Arizona RTL PAC leaders, the endorsement is based on Huckabee’s strong pro-life record and ongoing activism on behalf of the right to life movement.

John McCain Gains Thompson Supporters

Members of groups from Georgia and Tennessee supporting Fred Thompson have endorsed or joined the John McCain campaign. Also endorsing McCain was the national co-chair of Veterans for Thompson.

According to the press release from the McCain campaign:

Major General James E. Livingston, USMC (ret.), recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor and former National Veterans Co-Chairman for Fred Thompson, joined over 100 former general and flag officers to endorse John McCain for President of the United States.

Mitt Romney Adds Nine "Lawyers for Thompson" to Committee

Today, the Romney campaign announced the addition of nine lawyers to his Romney for President Advisory Committee on the Constitution and the Courts. These lawyers were all members of Lawyers for Thompson and will now join the Romney Presidential campaign as advisors.

According to the press release, the advisory committee is, "chaired by Professor Douglas W. Kmiec, former constitutional legal counsel to President Ronald Reagan, [Kmiec] has been advising Governor Romney on the important legal issues confronting the country today."

Thompson supporters aren't running to any particular candidate but this move is significant and may be indicative of a bigger wave that will move to Romney.

Where the Candidates Stand on Abortion

Yesterday's San Francisco Chronicle gives a decent summary of the Republican presidential candidates' stands on abortion. Romney, Giuliani, McCain, Huckabee and Paul are all mentioned.

Thompson Leaves Race

As reported by CNN, Fred Thompson announced today that he is leaving the race for the presidency. In an e-mailed statement, Thompson said, "Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for President of the United States. I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort. Jeri and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and friendship of so many wonderful people."

My biggest complaint about the Thompson campaign is that when they finally entered the race, the splash they made upon entering didn't create a ripple-effect big enough to sustain the campaign. The campaign needed more energy and more visibility to keep it going.

That said, it is reported that Thompson's mother is ill and that can be hard on anyone. It's possible that, behind the scenes, her illness was taking a toll on the campaigner and the campaign-- and that's understandable. Running for the presidency is an 80 hour a week job-- and that's just to run. If your mother is ill too? That's more than enough for anyone's plate.

Speculation is that Thompson may endorse McCain but, according to CNN, Thompson has not contacted any of the other campaigns about an endorsement. So, for now, we guess and wonder where his endorsement will go-- and if it will help.

McCain and New Hampshire

Mmmmmm, McCain's win in New Hampshire was little surprising. But then the state isn't exactly known for being a hotbed of conservatism. That said, McCain had a nice showing and it puts him back in the running. McCain isn't a liberal but his biggest liberal-like issue will likely be his baggage over McCain-Feingold. Thompson has a similar problem but at least his name isn't on the legislation. Also, National Right to Life seems to be willing to overlook this with Thompson-- as evidenced by the organization's endorsement of him.

NH gives McCain a boost. Anytime a candidate is low-man-on-the-pole everyone wants bury his or her campaign. But a strong showing in a primary state early on can put that candidate back on track and prevent people from claiming his campaign is over. Media commentators were all but calling the McCain campaign dead. NH gives him a "comeback."

Can McCain pull off a nomination? I don't know. More people are leaning toward Thompson; Huckabee seems to be our underdog candidate. Who knows? In the world of politics things change as quickly as you can send a text message. We have about eight months until a nominee is picked-- anything can happen between then and now.

Iowa

Well, Iowa is almost upon us and, as usual, the media will try to use the results like tea leaves to predict what will happen in November.

Romney and Huckabee are doing well in Iowa but the state is known for being conservative. That said, I think it will give us a feel for how a good sized portion of the Republican Party is leaning in this contest.

I Am Not Endorsing Anyone--Yet

My last post explained how National Right to Life would have gone about finalizing the endorsement of Thompson from an internal perspective.

Personally, I am holding off on endorsing anyone. I think it's still too early to make any kind of judgments regarding who the most viable candidate will be. I do understand why others have made endorsements but as a writer I feel I need to hold back.

In the interest of full disclosure, I did make a $25 donation to Mike Huckabee and plan on donating to a couple of other pro-life candidates as well. We have a long haul in front of us and it makes better sense for us to focus on the Democratic candidates than who among the Republican frontrunners is more pro-life.

The Democrats have a strong chance of winning with one of their candidates and we have to make sure the American people know that each candidate vehemently supports abortion on demand.

Yes, there are varying degrees of pro-life among the Republican candidates. Some have come to the issue late in the game, others are more politically correct in their approach. Still others have been trusted friends of the movement for their entire political careers. But the enemy is in the other camp. Let's use our ink to expose the lies and misstatements of the pro-abortion left.