Pat Robertson endorses Giuliani

Reverend Pat Robertson -- the second-place finisher in the 1988 Iowa Caucuses -- endorsed former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani this morning. Giuliani just spoke with me about the endorsement.  Hear it here --  Download robertsonendorse.mp3.

UPDATE:  After the jump, read the statement issued by the Iowa Christian Alliance just before 6 p.m.

Statement from Steve Scheffler, president of the Iowa Christian Alliance:

“We’re not going to beat Hillary Clinton with someone who has a record of agreement with her on abortion, gay marriage, illegal immigration and many other issues important to Iowa conservatives.

"Some conservatives seem willing to look past Giuliani’s liberal record because he appears strongest in national polls against Hillary Clinton.  The truth is, the national election is still months away.  Iowans should nominate a candidate who can draw a contrast with Hillary, not someone who shares her New York values.  In fact, recent polls point to Giuliani’s slippage against Hillary Clinton on the national scene and are evidence that the “electability” argument doesn’t hold water. 

"Social conservatives such as Pat Robertson who back pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage candidates do a disservice to the conservative movement.  At the end of the day, we have to stand for something, or our movement has no purpose.”