The Washington Wire at the Wall Street Journal reports that the dean of Bob Jones University’s college of arts and sciences, Robert R. Taylor, endorses Governor Mitt Romney for president. He’ll announce his support soon.
The decision of Taylor to endorse Romney is remarkable and unexpected at least for quite some because BJU is a very strict evangelical university which, up until very recently, denounced Mormons as heretics. In 2000, for instance, Bob Jones III described Catholicism and Mormonism as follows: “cults which call themselves Christian.”
In 2007, however, the situation is quite different. Taylor told the Washington Wire that Romney is the only viable option to him. He believes that Romney is the only social conservative with an actual chance to win the nomination and the national elections.
About Fred Thompson Taylor said: “I just don’t see the energy there,” which seems to be an understatement.
The Carpetbagger Report adds that Evangelical opposition to Giuliani is growing: many Evangelicals truly don’t want to see a socially liberal Republican nominee. Whatever is necessary to prevent him from winning the nomination, they are willing to do. Furthermore, he writes, “John McCain is too untrustworthy, and Mike Huckabee and Sam Brownback aren’t competitive enough. Romney offers evangelicals a competitive candidate who, at least now, says everything they want to hear about abortion and gays.”
Matthew Yglesias expects that more Evangelicals / Evangelical leaders will support Romney in the coming weeks and months: “if a Mormon’s good enough for BJU then why shouldn’t he be good enough for the rest of the evangelical community?”
Expect Mitt Romney to do increasingly well in the national polls. In order to win, Rudy Giuliani needs the Christian conservative vote to be fractured. If Christian conservatives, however, rally behind one specific candidate once again, it’ll become increasingly difficult for Giuliani to win the GOP’s nomination. For a long time one got the impression that Evangelicals would - en masse - support Fred Thompson, but he lacks the necessary energy to impress people / win the nomination, let alone the national elections.
This is a major endorsement for Romney, it’ll be interesting to see how the other candidates will respond to it. Will they attack him even more? Will they dare attack him on his faith?
A h/t to Memeorandum.
I don’t know how Mitt pulled this off, but it’s big. My assumption has been that after strong showings in IA and NH, Romney will meet his Waterloo in Baptist Country- South Carolina. A Bob Jones Univ. endorsement may alter that significantly, depending, of course, on the endorsement’s weight (of which I know nothing). If Mitt is able to pull off a SC coup- or at least lose narrowly, all bets are off. Potentially, it may mean 3 straight wins. I’ll believe it when I see it- but will a Mormon candidate be embraced in the South?
Or even 4 wins- don’t forget Michigan is in the mix too…
Florida might come to late for Rudy…
I think evangelicals are starting to realize that Mitt offers republicans the best chance of beating Hillary. Whether or not you agree with his theology, the fact of the matter is that he doesn’t have any skeletons in his closet for the Clinton Smear machine to drag out a couple of weeks before the election. In his personal and business life, the guy is clean as a whistle, which is not the case with Rudy or Fred. Plus evangelicals don’t need to worry about him using the bully to spread his religion as his track record in public office clearly shows a reticence on his part to do so, although I do think he will discuss family values more than Bush has.
I honestly gave Mitt no chance in SC. And you’re right about Michigan, Douglas.
Meanwhile, in related news, Fred Thompson just woke up from a nap.
LOL. In related related news, it seems that he opens his eyes, looked around, and fell back to sleep again.
Frozen Chosen: I agree with you about Romney’s record.
Douglas and Kreiz: if he wins Iowa and N.H. and continues to do well and get endorsements like this, he could - indeed - win three perhaps even four states in a row. To say that this would create ‘momentum’ would be quite an understatement.
The south: he doesn’t have to win all the states there, he just has to be able to compete. And who else are they going to support? Giuliani? Thompson? McCain? Giuliani the social liberal? Thompson seemed to be the #1 there, but he lacks energy and can be criticized for his past work, and McCain is simply distrusted.
Of course, Romney has a ‘problem’ being a Mormon and all, but the other candidates have some ‘major issues’ as well. And then… when those voters look at ‘values’ it may very well be that they think ‘well, i don’t share his view on God, but at least he supports my values.’
You got to love the Republican race: it’s quite open. Giuliani could win it, Thompson could win it and Romney could win. And perhaps McCain can make a reasonable comeback…
Honestly, I would wish that both parties just did not have any nominee prior to the Conventions. I’d love to see it decided at the Convention.
When this endorsement comes it will bring more weight than anyone in the Carolina’s can begin to imagine. This will show Romney’s strength and push him not only to the Republican nomination but straight into the White House.
Jason I think you are right.
I think the South is still Thompson’s to lose, but I think Romney is looking better and better positioned each day.
I admit to being surprised.
While I am leaning towards Romney, I have always explained to people that it is because I see Romney as a solid B+
No other candidate strikes me as an A. Thompson had me hoping but he seems to be another B+ himself.
I’m a fusionist myself (I believe that social and fiscal conservatism are supporting and interlocking– not in conflict at all), so maybe that explains it.
Ron Paul has won the inaugural Conservative Leadership Conference straw poll. Despite not appearing at the conference, Paul won convincingly with 33% of the vote. Mitt Romney, who addressed the conference in a town hall meeting and during a general session, finished second with 16%. Duncan Hunter, who also delivered a major address during the three-day event, finished third at 15%.
Shame on Bob Jones University for supporting Mitt Romney. His stance on abortion is unacceptable and political flip flopping. No doubt they will see their error when Mike Huckabee accepts the Republican Nomination. Go Mike!
Shame on Bob Jones University for supporting Mitt Romney. His stance on abortion is unacceptable and political flip flopping. No doubt they will see their error when Mike Huckabee accepts the Republican Nomination. Go Mike!