This is great news, if Dobson and others stick to their guns on it:
Focus on the Family head James Dobson, has published an Op ed piece in The New York Times clarifying exactly what happened: The group voted almost unanimously not just to "consider" backing such a challenger, but to definitely do so. In other words, Dobson made it official, saying that if a pro-choicer wins the GOP nomination, these leaders will be going third party. Dobson wrote:
After two hours of deliberation, we voted on a resolution that can be summarized as follows: If neither of the two major political parties nominates an individual who pledges himself or herself to the sanctity of human life, we will join others in voting for a minor-party candidate. Those agreeing with the proposition were invited to stand. The result was almost unanimous
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And it's hard to believe such a 3rd-Party campaign would be as quixotic as Ralph Nader's was in 2000, earning less than 3% of the vote. If endorsed by so many wackos religious conservative leaders, it's fair to say the 3rd party choice would clean up and split the republican party vote:
A new Rasmussen poll shows that a threat being presented by James Dobson and others on the Christian right — that they would support a third-party candidate if the Republicans nominate a pro-choicer — could have some real weight to it.
The poll finds that 27% of Republican voters would rather vote for a third-party Christian right candidate in a general election than vote for Rudy Giuliani — and that's in a three-way race with Hillary Clinton.
The hypothetical three-way race shows Hillary with 46% support, Rudy at 30%, and the third-party conservative with 14%.
Now, no one hates polls this far out from an election as me, and obviously, this could just be Dobson and the rest of his ilk blowing smoke, but there's cause for cautious optimism at this point. Lets root them on and guarantee a Democrat in the White House in 2009!
SPLIT THE VOTE! SPLIT THE VOTE!