Race for the White House hots up

Today is a big day in the race for the Republican nomination with both Rudy Giuliani and John McCain (pictured) rolling out major endorsements from influential Christian conservatives. Giuliani wheeled out Pat Robertson, the one time presidential candidate and a hugely powerful figure in the movement. Robertson’s backing should help reassure those who fear that Giuliani’s pro-choice stance could split the Republican Party. Although, one wonders how someone running on their leadership on 9/11 can cosy up to someone who allowed his radio programme to be used as a platform for those who blamed 9/11 on “pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians” and reacted to the attacks by saying “We have sinned against Almighty God, at the highest level of our government, we've stuck our finger in your eye.”

McCain’s newest supporter, Sam Brownback, is less controversial. Brownback was himself running for president until recently and his backing should help McCain win over religious voters who have traditionally been wary of him. It should be particularly useful in the lead-off state of Iowa, where Brownback had been concentrating his own efforts, where McCain needs a respectable finish. With McCain back up to second in national polls, it is clear that the former frontrunner is once again a serious candidate.