Rudy's Divorce A Problem For Evangelicals?

Church Leader Says Conservative Christians Think Giuliani Showed Lack Of Character

(CBS/AP)  A top Southern Baptist official says evangelical voters might tolerate a divorced presidential candidate, but they have deep doubts about Rudy Giuliani, whose divorce was "on steroids."

Richard Land, head of public policy for the Southern Baptist Convention, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that evangelicals believe the former New York City mayor showed a lack of character during his divorce from second wife Donna Hanover.

"I mean, this is divorce on steroids," Land said. "To publicly humiliate your wife in that way, and your children. That's rough. I think that's going to be an awfully hard sell, even if he weren't pro-choice and pro-gun control."

The Nashville-based Southern Baptist Convention is the largest Protestant denomination in the nation with more than 16 million members in 42,000 churches.

Southern Baptists have been among the most vocal of conservative Christian groups in support of the Bush administration, but they and other conservative evangelicals are struggling to find a consensus presidential candidate that embraces their core values against gay marriage and abortion.

Giuliani married his longtime companion Judith Nathan in 2003, but he was publicly dating Nathan while he was still married to Hanover. His first marriage ended in an annulment.

A Giuliani staff member referred calls on Land's statement to his exploratory committee, which did not have an immediate response.

Land noted that fellow Republican presidential candidate John McCain is also divorced, but that McCain has acknowledged his part in the marriage's failure.

"It's a molehill compared to Giuliani's mountain," Land said. "When you're a war hero (like McCain), you have less to prove on the character front."

Many polls identify Giuliani as the front-runner in the Republican presidential primary, followed by McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

If Giuliani faced Democratic contender Hillary Rodham Clinton in the general election, evangelicals would support Giuliani, but in fewer numbers than if it was a "pro-life candidate who was still with his first wife," Land said.

Land's comments follow reports earlier this week that Giuliani's marriage to Nathan has left his two children with Hanover alienated from their father.

"There's obviously a little problem that exists between me and his wife," Andrew Giuliani, 21, told The New York Times. "And we're trying to figure that out. But as of right now it's not working as well as we would like."

Andrew Giuliani said he would not participate in his father's presidential campaign because he would be too busy pursuing his plan to become a professional golfer.

Giuliani's 18-year-old daughter Caroline has not spoken publicly, but the Times and New York's tabloid newspapers reported that she was also alienated from her father.

Campaigning in California on Monday, Giuliani defended Nathan as
"a very loving and caring ... mother and stepmother" and asked for privacy to deal with the strained relationship with his children.