Last week, Sam Brownback met with Rudy Giuliani. Deal Hudson has an account that concurs with what I have heard from Brownback associates and with what Brownback’s people have told outside groups:
Brownback caused a controversy by accepting an invitation from Rudy Giuliani to discuss life issues following the Senator’s decision to drop out of the presidential race.
Giuliani had called Brownback the day after his announcement to ask for his endorsement. Brownback started to say "no" when Giuliani asked him if at least he would come by and talk about it.
Brownback accepted the invitation, had the chat, but, as expected, did not issue an endorsement.
A rumor rushed around the Internet that Brownback had "compromised" his principles, etc.
Jim Bopp, Jr., general counsel of National Right to Life said some pretty ugly things about Brownback. The management of NRTL had to dissavow Bopp’s comments in a press statement issued later that same day.
Very messy. And all because Brownback was willing to listen to what Giuliani had to say, like any civilized person ought to do.
Brownback listened, concluded Giuliani was not willing to change his positions, stepped in front of the cameras with the Mayor and said, basically, that they agreed to disagree.
There has also been some speculation that Mitt Romney will get Brownback’s endorsement. However, Romney and Brownback have been unable to schedule a meeting. When I asked a Brownback associate about the possibility of an endorsement I was told, "It is typical Romney. He says nice things while his campaign is attacking us and lying about our supporters." Followup questions revealed that he was referring to the Jim Bopp letter mentioned above, and the Romney campaign’s claim to have picked up the endorsement of "Michigan Brownback Campaign Leaders." It turned out that the "leaders" were unknown to the Brownback campaign and hadn’t endorsed Brownback anyways.
