Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani plans to meet with conservative Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, who is weighing whether to endorse a candidate after dropping out of the race last week, the senator's spokesman said today.
Giuliani supports abortion rights; Brownback is an ardent abortion foe.
"Mayor Giuliani asked to meet with Senator Brownback, and Senator Brownback is happy to sit down with him," said Brian Hart, the senator's spokesman. "Senator Brownback is talking to a few people but doesnt intend to endorse anyone right away."
Giuliani, the former New York mayor, leads national polls in the race for the GOP presidential nomination but is mistrusted by many religious conservatives because of his stands in favor of abortion rights, gay rights and other issues. Brownback, a Kansas senator, is popular with religious conservatives despite failing to become their consensus candidate.
Opponents likely to gain support
Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee appear most likely to receive Brownbacks support; McCain is a Senate comrade, and Huckabee is another favorite of religious conservatives.
Giuliani offers the reassurance that, while he supports abortion rights, he would appoint judges who would view the issue conservatively. The appointment of judges is one of the primary ways a president can influence the abortion issue.
Brownback is widely expected to run for Kansas governor in 2010, when his term — his second — expires. He had promised in his first Senate campaign to serve no more than two terms.