Giuliani wary of repeal of Roe

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — Former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani said last night that he would be “OK” with a Supreme Court repealing Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that established a constitutional right to abortion.

But Mr. Giuliani said he would approve of the justices upholding the decision — a sharp contrast with the nine other candidates on the stage for the first Republican primary debate, who said they would welcome its overturn and one even saying that would be “the greatest day in the country’s history.”

It was the latest stance for Mr. Giuliani on an issue that has dogged his campaign as he tries to win the nomination of an avowedly pro-life party whose social conservative base has such power in the primaries.

“It would be OK to repeal. It would be also if a strict constructionist judge viewed it as precedent,” Mr. Giuliani said during the 90-minute debate hosted by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. “I think the court has to make that decision and then the country can deal with it.”

Pressed by the moderator, who called Mr. Giuliani’s position “nuanced,” the candidate went into more detail, saying “I hate abortion.” He added that he opposes federal funding for abortions, though he said states should be allowed to fund them and that it was the right policy for New York to fund them.

But he took more criticism from former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who said it takes more to be a pro-life candidate than leaving the decisions up to the courts.

“You can fight, for instance, to make sure that partial-birth abortion is made illegal,” he said, also criticizing the campaign-finance rules written by fellow candidate Sen. John McCain, which he said have stifled pro-life groups’ efforts to participate in elections.

While social issues and the Republican Party’s recent woes dominated the debate, the candidates mostly found agreement on how to handle the war in Iraq, with just Rep. Ron Paul of Texas opposing the war effort.

Mr. McCain, trying to recapture his status as front-runner in the Republican presidential field, blasted Democrats for opposing President Bush’s troop surge, saying that although the administration “terribly mismanaged” the war early on, it now has the right strategy.

“If we lost, then who won? Did al Qaeda win?” the Arizona Republican said, denouncing the Democrats in Congress who applauded on the House floor after they passed a bill setting a timetable for withdrawal.

The candidates competed to see who would take a tougher line in Iran, with several saying the nation has already done enough to draw a harsh U.S. response.

“Iran has crossed the line. The United States has absolute license at this time to take whatever actions are necessary,” said Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, who also said the U.S. should act before Iran gains nuclear capabilities. “We should not get to the edge of this cliff.”

Mr. Giuliani said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad is “an irrational person” who must not be allowed to get nuclear weapons.

“He has to look at a president and see Ronald Reagan,” said Mr. Giuliani, who mentioned the former president several times throughout last night’s debate.

The candidates yesterday stood in the museum’s Air Force One Pavilion in the shadow of the Boeing 707 that served as the presidential plane during Mr. Reagan’s administration. The former president’s legacy also cast a shadow over the entire night’s proceedings, as the candidates attempted to cloak themselves in his mantle. Mr. Reagan was mentioned by name or reference 19 times, every single one of them laudatory.

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