WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney told a television interviewer former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is "pro-gay marriage," ABC News reported.
However, ABC said the Romney campaign was unable to substantiate the claim, leveled by Romney during a Christian Broadcasting network interview scheduled to air March 6 on "The 700 Club."
"(Giuliani) is pro-choice, he is pro-gay marriage, and anti-gun," said Romney of his rival for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, in an interview taped in Boston Feb. 28. "That's a tough combination in a Republican primary."
Giuliani signed legislation in 1997 creating domestic-partnership benefits in New York. A source close to Giuliani's presidential campaign told ABC Romney's comment was "sad."
"It is sad," the source said, "but unfortunately not surprising, that Mitt Romney's flailing campaign has chosen to misrepresent Rudy's positions. He can't keep his own positions straight let alone Rudy's."
The Romney campaign argued that Romney is more socially conservative than Giuliani because he opposes legal recognition for same-sex civil unions and he has rejected his past support for abortion rights.
