What is clear is that Rick Perry is angling, should Guiliani receive the nomination, to be on the ticket as his Vice President. This would shore up what many consider to be Guiliani's weaknesses, which is that he is socially liberal and perhaps not as religiously astute as traditional hardcore Republican voters. Having multiple mistresses and multiple marriages tends to do that, along with dressing in drag. But even Mr. 39% is having a hard time selling Guiliani to Republican voters in Iowa:
But it was abortion - and Mr. Giuliani's support of abortion rights - that sparked the most passionate debate around the table.
"We're talking about our leader standing up and saying, 'I'm going to be pro-choice and pro-open marriage,' " said John Markham, a natural gas executive from Dubuque. "The social thing is a real, real hurdle."
Mr. Perry described himself as "the most anti-abortion governor in Texas history," but said he was satisfied by Mr. Giuliani's promise to appoint conservative judges to the Supreme Court.
"What about a veto of stem cells," said Colleen Pasnik. "Money for Planned Parenthood?"
Others jumped in, talking over one another.
"I can tell you I'm comfortable that on the vast majority of those issues, he is going to be ..." - and here Mr. Perry paused in search of the right word - "... a proper leader."
Silence.
Mr. Perry looked down at the table. "I'm doing a poor job of explaining," he said.
