Giuliani in '08 might be an uphill battle against McCain

New York Newsday ^ | December 10 2005 | GLENN THRUSH

[jmc1969]

WASHINGTON -- Rudy Giuliani and John McCain are the top-polling Republican rivals for the White House in 2008, but the two dinner buddies avoid talking about that topic when sharing tortellini and bresaola at Giuliani's favorite Manhattan bistros.

Their latest get-together took place on Nov. 1 at Elio's, an Upper East Side eatery known for its $30 veal chops. They shared a table with McCain confidante Mark Salter, Giuliani's wife Judith and his aide-de-camp Tony Carbonetti. McCain and Giuliani reportedly chatted about the food, sports and Iraq -- everything but 2008.

The same can't be said for the Arizona senator's operatives, who are girding for a clash between the two titans even though Giuliani could be a year away from making a decision. Some even predict the Straight Talk Express will roll over America's Mayor if it comes down to McCain vs. Giuliani.

"I think Rudy would make an attractive secretary of state or secretary of defense in a McCain administration," Marshall Wittmann, a former McCain aide who is still close to the senator.

"In my humble opinion, Rudy wouldn't get out of the gate," said longtime McCain strategist John Dennehy, who helped engineer the Arizona senator's victorious 2000 primary in New Hampshire.

[bybybill]

So, if it isn`t Rudy and it can`t be McCain, who is going to get it?

If a person can accept that the POTUS can`t take our guns or stop abortions by himself, and Congress isn`t going to do either, who on our side can win? More importantly, who can lead and who will do whats right no matter what the polls say? If, no, when the next 9/11 hits, who do you want to decide our response? Who do you want to intrust the safety of our troops?
Tough questions but we better be ready to find some answers pretty quick.
We can kill off our guys cause they aren`t pure enough and Hillary can run things or, we can unite behind somebody that can win.
Who is that? Only one that can beat her is Rudy. Hate his position on abortion and guns but, another 9/11 happens, I want a guy like him in charge.

[Nextrush]

Not my favorities, but at least Rudy isn't a sniper like McCain, kissing up President Bush, then attacking him the next time.

[SoDak]

I was at a neighbors house tonight for a birthday party, seemed to be maybe 2/3 Republicans, and 1/3 Dems, maybe 16-18 people, and everyone at that place agreed they wanted John McCain. I was really surprised. Can't see myself voting for him unless it comes down to McCain vs Hildabeast.

[Calpernia]

If it were Giuliani, Democrats would have a field day with his pictures of him dressed as Marilyn Monroe though.

I would still vote for Giuliani if he were dressed like that during the entire runoff campaign against McCain.

[Let's Roll]

McCain will be what 75 in '08?

Just the thought of him under pressure as in the debates does not form a pretty picture. It will be the McCaine Mutiny. The press has coddled him for years - he will not handle pressure well, but hey no problem - POTUS is not a position that comes with much pressure attached./s

[Calpernia]

He is also on Soros payroll.

John McCain Gets Soros Cash
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1360852/posts

[bybybill]

McCain is a very bitter man, reminds me a lot of Jimma

I must respect McCain because of the fact that he could have been released from the HANOI HILTON and he chose to stay. Can`t take that away from the man.

But, it`s not a life time pass.

[fat city]

What a guy- and the Huffington connection is just downright laughable- or would be if the whole friggin election process wasn't at stake.

[denydenydeny]

"In my humble opinion, Rudy wouldn't get out of the gate" [against McCain]

The man is high. Giuliani leads McCain decisively in every poll.

[toddrundgrenisgod]

Do you think the pussyboy George Allen will win?

No way. Not in the international enviroment we face.

Even McCain has more stones than Allen.

[toddrundgrenisgod]

Do you think the pussyboy George Allen will win?

No way. Not in the international enviroment we face.

Even McCain has more stones than Allen.

[DB]

All I can say is I won't vote for McCain no matter what.

The man is not sane.

[HitmanLV]

I don't think only Rudy can beat Hilly - in fact, I don't think Hilly will even get the dem nomination.

You do raise the important issue, though, and address a vulnerability and credibility problem with myopic, one issue conservatives on the road to 2008.

That is, part of our side's argument in the period after 911 is to ask the other side to put aside it's social agenda and other issues and recognize that the most important issue is national security.

Now come 2008, some of those same people are going to raise social issues in disqualifying McCain or Rudy. The truth hurts, and the truth is that taking that posture would leave the GOP at a severe credibility loss and flatfooted going into 2008.

If the main issue for the dems, as we insisted, was national security, so should the main issue for the GOP be national security. Anything else makes us phonies.

Now, we aren't phonies.

[bill1952]

Rudy doesn't have a snowball's chance in Hell of ever winning the ticket for POTUS.

NE RHINO delusions.

I admit, I would vote for a dog before I'd stand by and watch the outright destruction of this country by Hillary, but Rudy ain't that dog.

McCain would roll over him and hopefully, Rice will be on the ticket, as well.

However, I don't care for McCain.

McCain/Rice would be the best chance of defeating the Clintons. - At least, looking at today's political landscape, but it's early days yet.

As I intend to tell all of the liberal trash that I know on New Years, it's 3 more years with Bush! Ha!

[nopardons]

McQueeg has less than no chance to win the GOP presidential primary.

[bill1952]

Those polls are BS.

[nopardons]

bttt

[Susannah]

Soros supportin McCain? That seems strange that he would support a Senator who is 100% pro-life and standing up for gun rights. McCain also was one of the few Republicans who did vote against that Medicare prescription drug benefit.

NBC aired McCain speaking about the war today and he sounded very positive about the progress and was talking about America being united behind the cause, etc.

I don't know if I trust what NBC's Chris Mathews Show comes up with, but their polls showed that Giuliani would beat Hillary and McCain would beat her by a much higher margin.

[Diddle E. Squat]

LOL. Giuliani will be on the ticket as either the P or VP if he decides to run. He'd smash McCain to bits.

[nopardons]

Condi won't be it, either!

She's never held an elected office, has never been through a campaign ( which is grueling and chews people up!),and she doesn't want to be president.