James Bopp, Jr. sat down with Jennifer Rubin for an interview about Mitt Romney and conservative issues. Especially in light of the recent dust-up about religious leaders voting for a third party if Giuliani is the candidate, it is enlightening to see why such a prominent and active conservative leader has chosen Romney:

Bopp says he had been impressed with his record of “tremendous leadership skills” in running the Olympics and as a businessman and executive but had to assure himself that Romney’s conversion to the pro-life cause was “sincere.” He met with Romney and came away satisfied by Romney’s words but also by his actual record as Gov. Bopp says: “Unfortunately there are some people in the pro-life movement who are not willing to accept converts. Our whole thrust is to gain converts. If you are not willing to accept them we are doomed to defeat.”

Bopp also elaborates on some of the important social issues voters are looking at in deciding on a presidential candidate.

On marriage: Bopp says that it is “extremely important,” emphasizing that Romney is the only top tier candidate who supports a constitutional amendment explicitly requiring that all marriage be between a man and a woman.

On McCain-Feingold: Bopp says this “goes to the heart of citizens’ involvement in our democracy. To talk about ‘corruption’ is a smokescreen.

On judicial activism: Bopp argues that Romney “more than anyone understands it because he lived through it” as governor of Massachusetts in the battle against judicial imposition of gay marriage.

On how to pick a president: Bopp says that he would not support a candidate who is not a conservative but that voters should put more stock in who will be “viable” and who has the skills to be in charge of “managing the largest enterprise in the world.”

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