GOP Contenders Vie for Conservatives

Republican presidential hopeful, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, gestures while addressing the Family Research Council, a conservative advocacy group, Friday, Oct. 19, 2007, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) (Jose Luis Magana - AP)

_McCain angered social conservatives when he called their leaders "agents of intolerance" in 2000. He hasn't been a vocal champion of their core issues even though he has a solidly right-flank voting record.

_Thompson has drawn criticism for conflicting statements on abortion in his Senate races, his lobbying work on behalf of an abortion-rights organization and his opposition to a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

Thompson, McCain and Romney are urging social conservatives to put those concerns aside and rally around one of them _ or risk a Giuliani nomination.

Thus, all three filled their speeches with frequent references to God as they emphasized their opposition to abortion, their support for marriage between men and women only and their commitment to appoint judges who would not legislate from the bench.

Romney, whose Mormon faith has made some evangelical Christians wary, tried to dismiss the notion that his religion was repelling voters.

"I imagine that one or two of you may have heard that I'm Mormon," he said, drawing chuckles from the friendly crowd. "I understand that some people think that they couldn't support someone of my faith. But I think that's just because they've listened to Harry Reid," he said, referring to the Senate Democratic leader from Nevada, who also is of the same faith.

Romney added: "What I'm really pleased about is that so many people of faith have come to endorse my candidacy and my message."

Thompson, for his part, called himself a consistent conservative during his Senate tenure, adding: "That's who I was then, that's who I am today and that's the kind of president I would be."

McCain, who got a polite reception and then a standing ovation, slapped at all three of his top competitors.

"I'll match my record of defending conservative principles against any other candidate in this race," McCain said, adding that while voters may not always agree with him, "I hope you know I'm not going to con you."