Rudy Giuliani

Pros:

Abortion and Birth Control:
• Has expressed a view that is more firmly and articulately pro-choice than most Democratic nominees.
Gay Rights:
• Supports open acceptance of gays in the military and abolition of "don't ask, don't tell."
• Supports civil unions and domestic partnerships.
• Opposes the Federal Marriage Amendment.
Immigrants' Rights:
• Has consistently supported humane treatment of undocumented immigrants, and moderate to progressive immigration reform policies.

Cons:

Crime and Punishment:
• Critics argue that Giuliani's conservative "law and order" policies contributed to NYPD violence and corruption.
First Amendment:
• Targeted "adult" businesses in New York City, raising serious First Amendment concerns.
• Numerous other First Amendment concerns.
Gun Rights:
• Giuliani's extremely liberal position on gun control is troubling from a Second Amendment perspective.
Rights of the Homeless:
• Infamous for attempting to improve New York City's image/"beautification" at the expense of city's large homeless population in numerous specific instances.
• Attempted to enforce an ordinance evicting unemployed homeless adults from city-run shelters. The ordinance was blocked by the New York State Supreme Court.

Tom's Take:

Giuliani has never held office as a governor or national legislator, so his paper trail is noticeably skimpier than that of his opponents. This gives him considerable room to change his position on social issues with minimal political risk, which would greatly increase his odds of capturing the Republican nomination. That said: If he does manage to win the nomination without giving up his established principles to do it, he will seriously diminish the Religious Right's power in the Republican Party and may create a scenario in which the Democratic candidate is actually less socially libertarian than the Republican on "moral values" issues. If that happens, expect a social policy platform reminiscent of that of Richard Nixon, in which Giuliani will put aside the culture war debate and attempt to appeal to conservatives with a "law and order" campaign focusing on the twin threats of terrorism and urban crime (the drug trade, in particular).