Rudy Giuliani has polled very well since he has made his presidential ambitions clear. In a recent Quinnipiac University poll Giuliani does well in blue, red and purple states beating Clinton 48 - 43 percent, Obama 47 - 40 percent and Edwards 48 - 40 percent. Much can and will happen between now and the November 2008 presidential election. The electorate is fickle, just ask President Bush and his father.
Can Giuliani maintain his momentum as the front runner for the GOP presidential nomination? Will he be able to overcome video's highlighting his not so conservative views, which will appear on countless blogs and other websites?
Giuliani has plenty going for him. He is the U.S. attorney who decimated the Mafia. He turned New York City around with tax cuts, welfare reform, and tough-on-crime action. He became "America’s Mayor" for his post-9/11 leadership. Is that enough to overcome Giuliani's pro-choice, pro-gun control, and pro-civil unions positions and win the confidence of conservatives?
My esteemed RedState colleague Hunter Baker writes that Giuliani was well received at the Conservative Political Action Conference after announcing that former Solicitor General of the United States Ted Olson had joined his campaign. Olson's endorsement may not be enough by itself, but there is more.
Two days ago, Louisiana's conservative first-term Senator, David Vitter, also endorsed Giuliani:
"Obviously, I disagree with Rudy on some significant social issues, and these are very important to me and to many of the people I represent," Vitter said. However, he said, after numerous meetings with Giuliani, "it's very clear to me that he's not running for president to advance any liberal social agenda."
Vitter also said that he is convinced that Rudy will appoint the best federal judges of all the major candidates. Giuliani added he would do everything he could to "appoint judges who would interpret the Constitution rather than execute their own social policy." Vitter will serve as the Giuliani campaign’s southern regional director.
Today Roll Call reports the fiscally conservative Club for Growth has kind words for Giuliani, while making the group's distaste for McCain clear.
So far, Giuliani has run a smart campaign. Aptly described by Richard Miniter as "I-am-who-I-am," Giuliani's campaign is embracing Giuliani's mayoral record, rather than trying to hide from it.
Will this be enough to overcome conservatives reservations about Rudy's warts? It's a good start, but I still just can't get past that image of Rudy endorsing Democratic Governor Mario Cuomo for reelection over George Pataki.
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Comments: 32
He was warned against placing the command center for disaster anywhere NEAR the Twin Towers--where did he put it? Building 7--stupid is as stupid does.
He's been married 3 times, the first time to his 2nd cousin, he announced he wanted to divorce his second wife on a press conferance before he told her(and ran around publicly with girlfriend), but repubs only care about MY moral values, not theirs anyway.
He wasn't standing well in NYC on 9/10 and he wasn't standing well in NYC on 10/12 due to his carelessness for the firefighters and front line workers, but the rest of the country really didn't hear about that.
His administration was riddled with scandal, corruption(remember the sodomy of the man in the police station by the police officers?). Don't we already have to put up with an embarrassing fool in the White house with the initials of geedubya?
Why another one?
Let's say by some miracle he gets the nod at the convention. Then we get the election and most of the Evangelicals stay at home. I don't visualize him as a nominee.
Now granted, it is not likely that the Republican nominee is going to be as conservative as GWB. People tend to get a bit sick of that after 8 long years of it. But maybe somewhere between Rudy and GWB on the spectrum of conservatism?
Consider this:
The man is a habitual wife cheater and divorce addict. The core conservatives of the party used to be revolted by such people. Now, he's their front runner. So much for "family values."
The man is a cross dresser and a homosexual supporter. The core conservatives of the party used to be revolted by this as well, but, once again, they've cast aside their core principles.
The man was despised by NYC prior to 9/11, and even today, New Yorkers prefer their current mayor over Guliani. Not a good sign.
For some inexplicable, bizarre reason, this "steadfast 9/11 warrior" placed the city's emergency command control center smack dab in the middle of the most obvious terrorist target in the entire city...the WTC. On 9/11, he had no way of effectively directing a response, because his CCC was gone.
For years, he ignored the fact that the radio equipment used by first responders did not work properly.
After 9/11, he infuriated NYC firefighters by rushing to scoop up the rubble, and shipping it away to landfills, before bodies could be recovered. The rage amongst firefighters for this unforgivable, despicable offense is palpable and seething. They and their families will never forget or forgive him for what he did to their fallen, and will do anything and everything in their power to destroy him publicly for it.
Finally, he removed fire stations after 9/11, rather than support them. Another direct slam against the fire fighters and their families.
For some reason, the man seems to have a true hatred for first responders. Something tells me that the American public isn't going to see that in a very positive light.
The GOP is in big trouble.
Are you suggesting that republicans aren't capable of smearing someone over such a thing? He cross-dressed, and there are photos of it. Trust me, it will be cause the base to taste vomit.
I don't think the existing candidates have any appeal to the masses. I feel it's like 1996 when the best we could come up with was Bob Dole. Kind of like going to a New York deli and ordering a peanut butter sandwich.
I think that Thompson's appeal -- both real because of his experience in the senate and perceived because of the roles he's played could be ridden to the nomination and the presidency. And maybe the limited time frame will make it too difficult to expose any skeletons that might be in his closet.
Great post!