According to Professor Berlinerblau's assessment, Giuliani’s personal life will "fatally doom his candidacy among “values voters.” While Giuliani may not fit the "ideal" value voter's profile of the perfect candidate because of past issues with women, and his openness to the gay community, he candidacy amongst the Christian Right is surely not "doomed” because of the level of political intelligence amongst the value voters.

Giuliani's personal politics, as opposed to his personal life, seem to fit into some of the stringent requirements issued by the value voters in choosing a candidate to support. While his support of a woman's right to choose is a major hindrance to their support, he seems to hold other pieces to the puzzle. First, let's start with his strong support of Israel, which Prof. Berlinerblau draws attention to when he mentions that Giuliani kicked Arafat out of the Lincoln Center. This is a key issue for the Christian Right and is something that other candidates cannot claim as strongly as Giuliani. Second, Giluiani's outreach efforts to the value voters seem to be working. In a recent speech to Regent University, the college founded by televangelist Pat Robertson, Giuliani cited his strong support against "Islamic terrorism" and delineated twelve moral commitments to the American people. By focusing his words around terrorism, what he declares the "major issue" of the campaign, he evokes patriotism in order to make up for his abortion stance.

So while Giuliani may not be the perfect fit for the value voter's support, he is not as far off as some may believe, which helps to explain the recent Pew Forum poll. So rather than allowing their faces to twist into question marks, the political pundits should start to realize that the value voters may not be as strict in their requirements for candidacy as we believe, and that amongst a candidate pool that is a varied as the one today. They are not choosing the overtly religious Sam Brownback or Mike Huckabee with the same enthusiasm as Giuliani. I think the pundits need to recognize that the poll numbers that show an oddly large amount of support for Giuliani, despite his abortion and same-sex marriage stance, show the political savvy of the Christian Right in their search for a candidate who supports their values, but whom can actually win the general election.

While Americans may have earned themselves the reputation of siding with "boring" candidates when asked about values, I disagree with Berlinerblau's statement that this trend has made much of a difference in the presidential races. Maybe Giuliani has a colorful past, but it pales when compared to that of Mr Bush. How much do we really care?

Most people can easily state a laundry list of personal values, retrievable from religion, family upbringing, etc. Yet perhaps more often people vote for reasons more difficult to explain- something more nuanced than a black-and-white stance on "moral" issues (especially when there are more serious issues of global importance). I know I do. At the same time, voting is an even simpler matter for others: my Catholic grandfather, given the option of a Catholic candidate, would not even need a moment to decide, however blemished this candidate's background may appear.

Call him an "imperfect Catholic," but I find it difficult to believe that this country would welcome anything closer to a perfect one.

Rudy appears to have problems maintaining marital relationships. That says a lot about him as a person. Is he trustworthy, truthful, patient, kind, empathic, insightful as to others concerns and needs? Is he overly aggressive and verbably abusive? Will he have patience in dealing with other world leaders and will he attempt to understand their cultures and internal pressures?
Is this a man who shows respect for the average American? Will he work well with Congress? Will he work for the American people or for Big Interests? Will he use common sense, rather than just follow the party line? Why is he being considered? Is it just because he is well known? Or is it because he is the very best America has to offer. Think America, think. I am just an ordinary American who loves her country.