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This is truly the Twilight Zone. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) is nearing an endorsement of Rudy Giuliani?

In our Thursday paper senior writer Alexander Bolton reported that Brownback said he hadn’t made an endorsement but was “much more comfortable now that I understand the mayor’s position” on abortion. This understanding came to pass during an hour-long meeting between Giuliani and the senator in Brownback’s office. He also said “justices are key,” and said of the mayor that “he’s stated many times his support for strict constructionists.” Isn’t that pretty much Giuliani’s only position, one that he has outlined within Brownback’s earshot at debate after debate? He has supported public funding for abortions, supported abortion rights, is personally opposed to abortion and would appoint strict constructionist judges. Now this makes Brownback comfortable?

It has only been 17 days since the economic debate CNBC sponsored in Dearborn, Mich., where Brownback said he would support the nominee of his party, declaring: “I believe that the person that’s going to lead the party will be somebody that is pro-growth and pro-life. I think these are two pivotal, key foundation issues that this country needs to stand for.” When Chris Matthews asked what if the nominee isn’t pro-life, Brownback held firm, saying, “It’s going to be. And I’m going to support the nominee of the party.”

Did he think we wouldn’t notice? I wrote it down that night, and blogged about it the next day. Evangelical News was so excited the group put out a release the following day quoting Brownback, as well as Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), who said the party was built on respect for human beings and “I think if we lost that respect and that protection for unborn human beings, then the party that Abraham Lincoln founded will be no more.”

I understand people changing their minds — ahem, “evolving” — but it usually happens on issues like this during 17-year spans. It is rarely 17 months, and I have never heard of 17 days.

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Why is Rudy so tempting to pro-lifers like Brownback? Will he snare the Brownback endorsement? Write to me at askab@digital-stage.thehill.com and we can discuss on my weekly video Q & A.