OK, So What Is It About Rudy?

Real clear Politics ^ | February 10, 2007 | Mike Magruder

[Yomin Postelnik]

I don't see too many unfair attacks. I made sure to state that I believe he's a fine man, did a good job as mayor and am just opposed to him for President. That seems to be the jist of most of the dissent on these threads. I've posted threads which have been met with vociferous disagreement before. As long as it's not personal or made of pure smear attacks there's no reason not to welcome it.

Some people, myself included, will admittedly have problems with turning the party over to a pro-choice, pro-gun control, pro status quo (meaning the way things are, not "status quo" as far as the party is concerned) candidate. Others who don't have a problem with his positions on these issues will still be concerned that such a candidate will split the party and assurances that he will appoint social conservatives are met with skepticism (though in Rudy's case I tend to trust him on this). That's why there's more dissent than say, on a Gilmore or Huckabee thread. But the dissent is largely just that. No one's trashing.

[Shooter 2.5]

Do you have a picture of an ex-mayor who became president?

[Yomin Postelnik]

It will if we can get the word out. A lot of things start at the grassroots level.

[deport]

Here are CA and IL polls done just recently that includes Hunter. There are others in which he was include but didn't score. I suspect that his polling is low because only a few know of him. If so then the campaign has a lot of work to get done quickly.

California
Likely Republican Primary Voters	Jan 2007
Brownback	-
Gilmore	-
Giuliani	33%
Gingrich	19%
Hagel	5%
Huckabee	-
Hunter	1%
McCain	18%
Pataki	-
Romney	3%
Thompson	-
Undecided	22%
And here's another:
Illinois
Likely Republican Primary Voters	Jan 2007
Brownback	4%
Gilmore	-
Giuliani	33%
Gingrich	8%
Hagel	3%
Huckabee	-
Hunter	1%
McCain	24%
Pataki	-
Romney	12%
Thompson	4%
Undecided	11%

Question Wording:

If the 2008 Republican presidential preference primary were being held today between (names rotated) Sam Brownback, Jim Gilmore, Rudy Giuliani, Newt Gingrich, Chuck Hagel, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, John McCain, George Pataki, Mitt Romney, and Tommy Thompson, for whom would you vote?

[Yomin Postelnik]

I'd be concerned about seeing the party split with a Rudy nomination.

Admittedly, whichever decent social conservative emerges will receive support from all parts of regular GOP voters, but I'm not sure the same can be said of Rudy. There will be many reasons for people to go elsewhere, more so than with even McCain or Romney.

[DungeonMaster]

As far as social liberals go, I like him more than I like Hillary, but not enough to vote for him.

[Dog Gone]

Do you have a picture of an ex-mayor who became president?

Nope. I'm unaware of a US President who was ever a former mayor. I'm not sure that would be a disqualifier, though, especially when running a city that would be the 12th largest state by itself.

The Mayor of New York City is a job that gets national attention. Being a Republican Congressman from California doesn't. That's the reality.

[Ciexyz]

sounds plausible to me.

[Ciexyz]

I like Rudy. He's a strong man. He's personable and trustworthy. I want to vote for a strong individual I admire who will kick a$$. I want to vote for a man that people can look up to. I need a hero, as the 80's song said, a hero who is larger than life. Our society is going to hell in a handbasket and I want someone in power who will make me feel good about the country again.

[Luke21]

I still fail to see how nominating a GOP liberal to run against a Democrat liberal furthers our cause. "Because it's our liberal and he can win" just doesn't cut it with me.