The Great Courtship

When it comes to presidential politics, Richard Land has seen better days. As policy chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention, Land remembers back in 1999 when a Republican presidential hopeful named George W. Bush came calling for support. "He was one of us," Land recalls. Eight years later, things aren't so simple. With Bush sidelined and no heir apparent in sight, voters on the right are surveying the 2008 field with a certain level of despair. The three GOP front runners--Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney--have all violated conservative principles. Other hopefuls, like Sam Brownback and Mike Huckabee, are beloved by the right but face doubts about their ability to beat a Democrat in the general election. Will social conservatives support the candidate they most agree with--or the one who can win? Land predicts electability, citing fear of a Hillary ClintonWhite House. "I wouldn't underestimate Clinton's ability to unite social conservatives around a candidate ... who they think can win," he says. Which one is most likely to strike just the right balance? A "values voter" tally, looking at what this bloc sees as the pros and cons of top GOP hopefuls:

THE RECONCILER John McCain

PROS: After condemning Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson as "agents of intolerance" during his 2000 run, McCain has tried to make amends with the Christian right. He spoke at Falwell's Liberty University last year and has consulted with noted evangelicals, including megachurch Pastor John Hagee in Texas. (This week Falwell will host a "meet and greet" at the National Religious Broadcasters convention on McCain's behalf.) He's even hired a former Bush adviser, David Rexrode, to tout his conservative credentials, particularly his anti-abortion stance.

CONS: Evangelicals are suspicious. They question McCain's opposition to a federal amendment to ban same-sex marriage. (McCain opposes gay marriage, but says the issue should be regulated by the states.) They haven't forgiven him for blocking the "nuclear option" in the Senate that would have forced an up or down vote on President Bush's judicial nominees. Last month Focus on the Family founder James Dobson vowed he would not vote for McCain "under any circumstances."

THE MORMON Mitt Romney

PROS: Romney is against abortion and opposes same-sex marriage, and he's been aggressive in courting the Christian right. He's consulted with Falwell and Franklin Graham and is scheduled to deliver the graduation address at Robertson's Regent University this spring.