Giuliani is unashamedly pro-choice.

Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani has taken a stand as a pro-choice Republican:

Saying he believes abortion is "morally wrong," Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani told an audience at Houston Baptist University this morning that he respects a woman's right to choose to have the procedure.

"I believe you have to respect their viewpoint and give them a level of choice," the former New York City mayor told a crowd of about 300 students and faculty at the school's Mabee Teaching Theater.

His remarks are part of an effort by Giuliani's campaign to clarify his support for abortion rights in the coming weeks, despite the political risks of alienating conservative voters. Giuliani has been criticized for what some have called confusing, sometimes contradictory statements on the topic.

Despite calls for tolerance for pro-choice Republicans (tolerance for unborn children being strictly verboten), I see this as dramatically wounding Giuliani's chances for winning the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. Although I think one can be pro-choice and still be a good Republican, Republican presidential candidates are generally expected to be to the political Right of Senator Hillary Clinton on abortion issues.