National Right to Life Committee backs Fred Thompson

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Fred Thompson is the Republican most likely to beat abortion-rights supporter Rudy Giuliani, the National Right to Life Committee said Tuesday, announcing its endorsement of the former Tennessee senator for president.

"While there are various polls, and some are up-and-down, the overwhelming consensus has been that he is best-positioned to top pro-abortion candidate Rudy Giuliani for the Republican nomination," the group's executive director, David N. O'Steen, said at a Washington news conference.

By emphasizing Thompson's political potential - he ranks second behind former New York Mayor Giuliani in national Republican polls - the anti-abortion group played down its own differences with Thompson.

~snip~

He contended that the group's endorsement, which had been telegraphed a day in advance by Republicans, carries more weight than endorsements by other conservatives in recent weeks. Among those: Televangelist Pat Robertson has endorsed Giuliani, and Moral Majority co-founder Paul Weyrich is supporting former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.