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Issues[(Kansas City Star) Guiliani at back of pack for abortion foes:][1] Rudy Giuliani won't be in Kansas City today for a National Right to Life Convention presidential forum. Not that anyone is surprised. Giuliani's staunch stand in favor of abortion rights sets him apart from the rest of the Republican presidential pack. That position, combined with the former New York City mayor's first-place rank in national GOP preference polls, is making more than a few people attending the conference wary about their party's future. ... Presidential politics moves to the forefront of the conference today at a 9:30 a.m. forum that will feature four of the 10 announced Republican candidates: U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter of California. They are all abortion-rights opponents. They line up to speak to about 1,400 anti-abortion activists, many of whom are leaders in their home states - and likely to back anybody but Giuliani.[(Christian Broadcasting Network, The Brody File) Brownback campaign now rips Romney on abortion:][2] By David Brody: It's now Romney versus McCain and Brownback when it comes to the abortion issue. As you may know, McCain's campaign absolutely torpedoed Romney when they released a new YouTube video and all but said that Romney's pro-life conversion was a farce. ... Anyhow, now Sam Brownback's campaign has piled on. Their latest press release is titled: "Romney Pro-Life Conversion Story Proven False." The release details Romney's changing position on abortion through the years. Then Martin Gillespie, political director of Brownback for President says the following: "One would think that Mitt Romney is in training for an Olympic gold medal in verbal gymnastics, as his various political contortions on abortion are stunning in their timing and flexibility. The best advice for Mitt Romney comes from Mark Twain: 'Always tell the truth. That way, you don't have to remember what you said.'" What is the Romney campaign's reaction to these comments? The Brody file just received this from Kevin Madden, spokesman for Mitt Romney. "Governor Romney is firmly pro-life and s proud of his pro-life beliefs and the actions he took as governor to protect the sanctity of life. Campaigns that continue to attack Governor Romney would be better off engaging voters on substantive ideas and our differences with the Democrats, rather than lashing out at fellow Republicans with angry attacks."[(AP) Brownback questions abortions for rape victims:][3] Sen. Sam Brownback, campaigning for president on Saturday before the National Catholic Men's Conference, questioned whether rape victims should get abortions. "Rape is terrible. Rape is awful. Is it made any better by killing an innocent child? Does it solve the problem for the woman that's been raped?" the Kansas Republican asked at the St. Joseph's Covenant Keepers gathering. "We need to protect innocent life. Period," Brownback said, bringing the crowd of about 500 to its feet.[(USA Today) Most '08 candidates stay out of talks to broker deal:][4] The effort to cobble together a bipartisan immigration bill has forged unlikely alliances among some of the most influential members of the Senate, including liberal Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and the chairman of the Republican Party, Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida. With the exception of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who has been under fire within his party for his part in the bill, the Senate's six declared presidential candidates have not been among them. As a bipartisan team of negotiators worked Thursday on a deal to resume the immigration debate later this month, the lesser roles played by the Senate's most ambitious members illustrates the hurdles the legislation faces. All six of the Senate's declared presidential candidates voted for last year's bill. This year, though none has ruled out voting for the bill, several have offered amendments that sponsors said would unravel the compromise. ... Last year Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., was one of the architects of the bipartisan immigration bill. He offered a passionate defense of the provisions giving illegal immigrants a chance at citizenship. "One of the key measures in any society is what you do for the so-called least of these," Brownback said in a May 2006 speech. "It is what you do for the least of these, what you do for the huddled masses. That really is a key hallmark and a key measure for a society." Earlier this month, Brownback backed an amendment by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, that Kennedy and others said would have effectively blocked many illegal immigrants from obtaining legal status. Cornyn called his proposal "a defining issue for those who seek the highest office of the land" but it was defeated, 51-46.[(Topeka Capital-Journal) Federal funding set for forts' projects:][5] The U.S. Senate budget committee Thursday approved a bill containing $360 million for construction projects at Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth in Kansas. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., said the Senate Appropriations Committee's action would support men and women in the armed forces while making certain veterans receive proper medical care. The spending plan requires approval of the full House and Senate. "I commend my colleagues for funding programs that are vital to our national security," said Brownback, among committee members voting in favor of the bill. The most significant project on the Kansas list is a $109 million combat aviation brigade complex at Fort Riley. Money was set aside for barracks at both Kansas installations, with $55 million going to Fort Leavenworth and $50 million destined for Fort Riley. The two bases each would receive $43 million to build unit operations facilities.Campaign Stops[(Des Moines Register) Conservative Brownback plans campaign tour of small towns:][6] U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback's presidential campaign plans to target small towns across Iowa next week in a four-day, 27-stop tour intended to build support for the GOP straw poll Aug. 11 in Ames. The Kansas Republican, who campaigns frequently on his rural roots, will start Monday in Oskaloosa and stump through parts of central Iowa near Ames with his wife, Mary, and their two youngest children. The campaign has not released a detailed schedule. "I'm fully committed to Iowa and the Ames straw poll," Brownback said Thursday in a conference call. "My Midwestern values will guide me as president, and I think I'm the candidate most in touch with Iowa voters." Twenty of the 27 towns on Brownback's tour have populations smaller than 15,000 - places where his conservative social and economic message will likely resonate and help create support for the straw poll, political observers said. Brownback's decision to participate in the poll, which was abandoned by GOP rivals Rudy Giuliani and John McCain, also gives him a chance to gain attention statewide._The Brownback Report will appear semi-regularly Monday through Friday. If you've seen a news story or other blog entry about the GOP presidential hopeful that we've missed, do [let us know.][7]_ [1]: http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/151399.html [2]: http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/176939.aspx [3]: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/4876725.html [4]: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-06-14-candidates-immigration_N.htm [5]: http://www.cjonline.com/stories/061507/kan_177297045.shtml [6]: http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070615/NEWS09/706150368/-1/ENT05 [7]: http://www2.ljworld.com/submit/blog_link_submission/