Rudy Giuliani High-Wire Act

Following through on speculation floated by his campaign earlier this week, GOP presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani today endorsed abortion rights and protection for civil unions (not marriages) for homosexuals, thus pushing his campaign towards the center (some in the GOP would say to the far left).

It's an interesting strategy: running away from the hard-right elements in the GOP base, and towards those more conservative Democrats who might vote for him in the early, more liberal primary states, like California, New York and others.

Giuliani had to do something to repair the indecisiveness on social issues he displayed at the recent GOP candidates' debate, so he has chosen to reaffirm his earlier beliefs - - angering some social conservatives - - rather than look to the remaining 75% of the electorate like the consummate flip--flop panderer.

Time will tell if Giuliani's remarks today are bold and successful outreach and damage control, or an oversized drink of political Kool-Aid.