Giuliani Nabs More California Conservatives

Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani has been married three times, dressed in drag (for a political skit), supports abortion rights, gun control and same-sex domestic partnerships. But he's nevertheless attracting a small but growing number of conservative political players in California.

This is important if Giuliani is going to win the closed GOP presidential primary - Republican voters in California tend to favor conservatives, with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger being the exception. Giuliani's support from Bill Simon, the conservative who lost to Gray Davis, has been noted. That was an easy one - Simon and Giuliani worked together at the U.S. Attorneys office and remain friends.

But conservative activists Steve Frank is on board. And here's what Rep. Devin Nunes said in the Salinas Californian:

"Nunes, an anti-abortion rights conservative, says he is supporting Giuliani despite their differences on many social issues because he is the best candidate for president. ... Nunes, who plans to help Giuliani raise money in Tulare later this year, said he and Giuliani can agree on such things as states rights and judges who adhere strictly to the Constitution.

" 'I really believe people are rallying around him because he's a proven hero,' said Nunes, who dined with Giuliani last month as the presidential candidate made a stop in Tulare to address the World Ag Expo. 'We are in a global war on terror. I know that I can trust Giuliani to fight and win the war on terror.' "

The war on terror? I think the people who like Giuliani - conservatives and moderates alike - support him because he doesn't look or sound like the current leadership. It's about change, and it's about appearing to know what you are doing.

(Photo: Keith Bedford / Reuters; Giuliani is pictured with his wife, Judith Nathan, during a fund-raiser.)