LONG VIEW REPUBLICANS

Right's view of Isakson changes (Tom Baxter, 8/9/03, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Throughout the '90s, Rep. Johnny Isakson's relationship with the religious right was frosty, and when he cut an ad staking out his position on abortion in the 1996 Senate campaign, it turned downright frigid. For a while, the rap on Isakson was that he could do well in a statewide general election campaign but would have a hard time ever winning a Republican primary, because of opposition from religious conservatives.

That perception has changed. [...]

As Southeastern chairman of the Bush re-election campaign, Ralph Reed isn't taking sides in the Senate primary. But the former state GOP chairman and national director of the Christian Coalition credits Gov. Sonny Perdue's election with a change of attitude within the religious right.

"Sonny has given social conservatives a place at the table and an important role in the Republican majority that makes it less necessary for them to settle every other single score in the party," Reed said.

Although abortion is likely to remain the core issue for religious conservatives, the focus of their attention for the next election or so might be such recent developments as the U.S. Supreme Court decision that declared bans on homosexual activity unconstitutional and the appointment of an openly gay Episcopal bishop.

"There are a lot of things falling out now regarding the culture that have grabbed the attention of conservative Christians," Fields said.

Isakson has signed on as a co-sponsor of a House bill that would ban gay marriage. He isn't likely to be any further to the right on that issue than any of his Republican opponents, but the issue could have an inoculating effect nevertheless.

Keen said support by religious conservatives for the Bush administration, and the recent defeat in the Senate of judicial nominees supported by the religious right, are causing some intraparty differences to be put aside.

"You want people who'll support his policies," Keen said about the president, "and, if you're in the U.S. Senate, someone who'll confirm his nominees."

Get to 60 Republicans in the Senate and all of the social conservative issues become winnable, especially as the judiciary gets restocked with conservatives. Posted by Orrin Judd at August 16, 2003 9:56 AM