Evangelicals Lukewarm Toward GOP Field

Thompson, who worked to emerge as a favorite among Christian conservatives this summer, disappointed many by refusing to endorse a federal ban on same-sex marriage and flubbing a question about Terri Schiavo, the subject of a Florida right-to-die case.

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"This summer, it looked like Thompson was going to gobble up the social conservatives," said one GOP adviser who has close ties to social conservatives. "They were his to lose, and unfortunately he's been losing them."

In South Carolina, where Republicans will vote Jan. 19, the presidential hopefuls have engaged in aggressive campaigns to win over evangelical leaders.

Thompson and McCain have appeared on Tony Beam's "Christian Worldview Today," a radio show based in South Carolina.

Kristin Maguire, a leading social conservative and GOP activist, said she received a personal call from former senator James M. Talent (Mo.) on behalf of Romney, the first Mormon candidate to have a serious shot at the presidency.

"He called into South Carolina on behalf of Romney to get over the whole Mormon issue," Maguire said this week. "That's kind of a stumbling block for some Christian conservatives."

Giuliani's challenge is far more complicated. He has repeatedly proclaimed his desire to win over religious voters in spite of differences on issues such as abortion, stem cell research and gay rights. But as he attempts to build bridges to Christian leaders nationally, local conservative activists say they see little evidence of those efforts at the ground level.

For many of those traveling to Washington, the goal is simple: prevent Giuliani from becoming the Republican nominee.

"He has done everything to . . . put his finger in our eyes and tell us this constituency does not matter," said Steve Scheffler, head of the Iowa Christian Alliance.

Scheffler said he refused to invite the former mayor to an event his group held last month after a series of snubs that included Giuliani's absence from a forum in June, his refusal to appear at house parties the group holds and the campaign's refusal to fill out a questionnaire.

John Stemberger, an Orlando lawyer and conservative Christian who is active in politics in Florida, said: "Every other candidate has been at least pandering at some level. I am not aware of a single effort [by Giuliani's campaign] to reach out to evangelicals, or Catholics for that matter."

Drew McKissick, a Christian activist and Romney supporter, sent an e-mail to South Carolina evangelicals urging support for Romney and saying, "If it turns out to be Giuliani and Hillary [Clinton], we've got two pro-choice candidates, and that would be a disaster."