What if Chelsea Clinton was backing Fred Thompson for president? Well, check out whom Rudy Giuliani's daughter favors in the 2008 race: Barack Obama. My question: has there ever been an instance when a major presidential contender was opposed by a child? Surely, there were some deep tensions in Ronald Reagan family. (Yes, family values at work.) But I don't recall Patti Davis or Ron Reagan Jr. endorsing Jimmy Carter in 1980 or Walter Mondale in 1984. Now if family dysfunction was a disqualification for president, the field would always be rather thin. But what does it mean that two of the people who know Giuliani the best--his son and daughter--are not aboard his presidential express? (Earlier this year, his son said he would not be campaigning for the old man.) What a good query for social conservatives and any debate moderator.

And imagine if the Giuliani kids were to explain their opposition to their father's presidential bid. How would Giuliani's campaign spinners spin that? Claim that he spoiled them? The Giuliani soap opera (and I haven't even mentioned his past and present wives) has the potential to eclipse the Clinton soap opera. That would be some accomplishment.

Posted by David Corn at August 6, 2007 03:37 PM