Posted on 07/08/2004 4:51:47 PM PDT by COUNTrecount
NEWS & COLUMNS
By Russ Smith
Rudy’s Senate-Bound And a grudge match against Hillary looms.
Rudy Giuliani is never going to be president. And he’s smart enough to know that.
The former mayor gave a revealing answer to Time’s Amanda Bower in the June 30 issue when she asked if he’d like to occupy the Oval Office. Giuliani said: "I’ve never really seriously sat down and thought about it. [And the Mets will win the World Series this year.] I almost think it’s arrogant, something you just don’t do unless there’s a realistic possibility."
Translated, Rudy understands that a pro-choice candidate who’s also an outspoken advocate of gay rights has no chance of winning a Republican presidential primary. Those are simply the facts of political life in the United States today, despite the residual admiration (and lucrative speaking fees) Giuliani enjoys among the public in the aftermath of Sept. 11. The same rules apply to Democrats: There will never be, at least in the near future, a nominee who’s opposed to abortion. In both parties, the core constituencies wouldn’t allow it.
The 2008 showdown is five years away, but it’s no secret that Florida governor Jeb Bush–who’s limited to two terms and will be out of office in ’06–is already running. Senate majority leader Bill Frist, just seven months ago considered a leading contender, has lost any luster after a rocky start in his new post. If George W. Bush wins reelection, it could be a catfight between his brother and Sen. Hillary Clinton.
But if the president’s winning a second term falls into the "big if" category, so does Clinton’s securing a second term as New York’s senator. Which brings us back to Rudy. The GOP nomination for either governor or senator is a virtual lock for him in 2006–barring bad health–and it’s my bet that Giuliani is relishing a run against Clinton and the chance to retire that rotten apple from politics.
When asked by Bower to evaluate Clinton’s performance as New York’s junior senator, Giuliani diplomatically evaded the question while at the same time offering a telling rationale for opposing her. He said: "[Clinton] has a very different philosophy, a very different approach to government... For example, I am a very, very big supporter of a reduction in capital gains tax and a reduction in taxation to stimulate the economy... Lower federal tax rates mean more dollars in the New York economy because we send a lot more money to Washington than we get back. I think our senators have to be fighting for getting more of those tax dollars back into the New York economy."
That answer indicates that Giuliani has no desire for the relative obscurity of Albany and instead is planning on pursuing a national stage, just as Clinton did in 2000 when she methodically defeated an unprepared Rick Lazio.
Run Rudy, Run!
He has experience in defeating organized crime and its bosses.
This may be the first female capo he's come up against.
Hillary will bow out of re-election run if she has to face Rudy. She can enter 2008 as the former Senator from New York.
Great visual, and sadly, accurate.
Go RUDY!!!
OOOOHHHH Boy! This is going to get goooooooooood! ;)
You may be right. That would also allow her to run for President without abandoning her Senate seat so early into the term. And the DNC would not have to worry about Pataki appointing a Republican to replace her if (perish the thought) she did win the White House.
Go Rudy...Go Rudy...Go Rudy...
Run Rudy, Run!
Nope. Rudy will replace Dick Cheney(after Cheney's heart problem causes him to retire), thus making him unavailable to run for the senate. Rudy will be the Republicans best candidate in 08(hey, and it rymes)
He can run against Hillary in 08.
I would think that Rudy would be more interested in Governor.
It's an executive position like mayor, for one thing. Besides, if Hillary were to be reelected senator and Guiliani were governor, Rudy could name himself to the senate if, Heaven forefend, she were to be elected (shudder) to the WH.
Yes, she could pull Rudy into the senatorial race, then bow out and run for and win the governorship. After that, she can run for president as a sitting governor and former senator...........ta da and the White House is hers!
There was also a theory that after Pataki leaves office in 2006 Hillary would run for governor, and seek the presidency from there. If so, I expect Rudy might run for governor.
I'd rather see him in an executive office than a legislator. That's what he's best at.
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