Dobson Admits Third Party Might Help Clinton
Conservative evangelical leader Dr. James Dobson admits that a third-party plan supported by pro-family leaders might unintentionally help elect democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton.
The influential pro-family advocate still contends, however, that he would rather vote following his values than compromise and be forced to choose between two pro-choice candidates.
"We're very, very concerned about the implications of a Hillary Clinton presidency, but you know, we have been working … for 35 years, I've been trying to defend the unborn child," Dobson said on Fox's Hannity & Colmes show Monday.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"That's been my life. That's been my belief, along with marriage and the family and the other things. I can't now abandon that because we've got two bad choices here."
Currently leading the Democratic race and Republican race are New York senator Hillary Clinton and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, respectively. Both have been criticized by conservatives for their pro-choice and pro-gay rights stances among other issues.
During a meeting in Salt Lake City, about 50 pro-family leaders decided they would consider backing a third-party candidate if the Republican Party chose a pro-choice nominee, such as Giuliani
In an Op-Ed in the New York Times last week, Dobson explained the coalition's decision and the reasoning, stating that as "vitally important" as it is for the GOP to win the presidential election, it should not be won "at the expense of what we hold most dear."
His announcement that a core Republican constituency could consider withdrawing their support from the party next year stirred controversy and created greater division in the already divided GOP.
"Why would we not support someone who does line up with our values system, when we would have to literally hold our noses to support somebody that contradicts those values?" Dobson posed to Hannity – who supports Giuliani despite agreeing with Dobson "99 percent" of the time.
When further pressed on the possibility that his third party plan could help Clinton, Dobson replied that the elections are still far away and are "very dynamic" and "volatile."
"There's still a possibility that one of those other candidates, a dark horse, could come from nowhere," Dobson said.
As the frontrunner for the GOP presidential nomination, Giuliani has repeatedly stated he can beat Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton – an appealing statement for those who see Clinton as a larger threat.
A recent Gallup Poll also found that the former New York City mayor had an overall favorable rating from churchgoing Protestants. Among the top tier Republican candidates, Giuliani was rated third by religious Protestants after former senator Fred Thompson and Arizona senator John McCain.
