Posted on 02/01/2006 5:23:40 AM PST by areafiftyone
Political pundits have long discounted former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's presidential prospects, claiming that his particular brand of tough-talking, socially moderate conservatism would never play south of the Mason-Dixon Line. But Rudy has never been one to listen to conventional wisdom, and lately at least, he has been turning up the heat in southern conservative political circles.
In just the last week, he endorsed Texas Republican Gov. Rick Perry for re-election and met with Evangelicals in Florida. Most impressively, he actually outpaced U.S. Senator John McCain in a just-released Georgia poll, garnering the support of 28 percent of Georgia Republicans to McCain's 22 percent, echoing numbers in December's CNN/USA Today/Gallup nationwide poll. The conservative blog, RightWingNews reported last week that while Condoleezza Rice was the top choice of 230 conservative bloggers for the Republican nomination, Giuliani came in second, beating out U.S. Senator George Allen and Newt Gingrich. Nationwide, Rudy earned a 63 percent favorable rating in a Pew Research Center poll in October.
In addition to supporting Perry, Giuliani has planted a Texas-sized footstep in the Lone Star State—now with three more Electoral College votes than New York. Last spring, he became a name partner in a Houston law firm, Bracewell and Giuliani, noted for its Bush connections and roster of major energy clients.
The Catholic mayor is also busy burnishing his ties to Christian conservatives. Pat Robertson has said Rudy would make "a good president" and the mayor was a headliner for a fundraising committee supporting former Christian Coalition executive Ralph Reed in his bid to be Georgia's lieutenant governor. Last week, Giuliani dropped by an Orlando meeting of the Global Pastors Network and told the Evangelical leaders that "only God knows" if he will run for president. The group offered their prayers for him and he responded in kind, showing an openly devout side not many people had seen before: "I can't tell you from my heart how much I appreciate what you are doing—saving people, telling them about Jesus Christ and bringing them to God."
Still, Giuliani's southern strategy may be an uphill climb. "It's a real stretch for Giuliani to get out voters in southern Republican primaries," Richard Murray, head of the University of Houston's Center for Public Policy said. "He has too much baggage to get through the southern primaries." Murray said Giuliani's best shot may be as a "ticket balancer," a moderate vice president to a conservative ticket leader, especially if Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee.If that were the case, and Rudy got to take on the senator from New York, he would feel right at home, no matter where he was stumping for votes.
[Giuliani and McCain are non-starters...]
McCain is definitely a non-starter because of what he said about Swift Boat Veterans.
Yeah, Freepers are more conservative than the general Republican public. The biggest thing is that many conservatives just don't realize what Giuliani's positions are on social issues, and simply assume that he is as conservative on everything as he sounds when he talks about terrorism.
However, when asked, issue by issue, I think we'd find most Republican voters fall more conservative than we'd think, as well.
Yea well they would have Bitched about it if he stayed with his girlfiend too.
I actually didn't mention McCain or the Swift Boat guys. I would not support McCain unless he somehow becomes the party's last resort. Anything to keep the rats from getting back into power. Fighting the war on terror trumps all other issues for me. And I wouldn't lose respect for Rudy for temporarily staying in the home of gay guys while waiting for his home to be ready. When the issue was first brought up it was framed a bit differently -- "shacking up with gay guys" to be exact. That leaves a totally different impression.
...and remember, he was sick at the time with prostate cancer...while his soon to be ex-wife was in Vagina Monologues.
I really miss the messy NYC politics and pols with some color. We got a mayor now who is about as interesting as drying cement.
You forgot "anti-gun".
If it came down to it I'd vote for Rudy over McCain.
I just flat don't trust McCain on the most important issues.
Of course, those are the IMPORTANT issues.....
Rudy, we ain't interested in your brand of politics.
Don't waste our time.
LOL you got that right! OMG I hope you don't smoke but Mayor Bloomie is thinking of upping the tax on cigarettes! It will come out to almost $8.00 a pack!!! I don't smoke but I feel sorry for NYers who do!
They're trying to turn NYC into a suburban mall, but it won't work. Sooner or later the city will re-assert itself...
Thank you.
He will not get my vote, and if he is the nominee, the GOP won't get a dime from me either. Some things are absolute.
You left "pistol packing" off your list...
(8^D)
I won't vote for him EVER after that stupid "WAHH, our immigration laws are too mean and nasty and restrictive" comment he made.
Yep. Why do you think the MSM is polling the difference between the more leftist Republicans, and pushing "moderates"? So they can get that split come 2008.
Time for Republicans to do their own homework and quit letting the other camp tell us who we are.
[You left "pistol packing" off your list...]
The majority of Republicans *definitely* stand by the right of citizens to carry guns...as long as they aren't anti-Bush Muslim "citizens".
So, because the majority is for pistol packing, I left it off the list on purpose. In a democracy, the majority wins and over time, the majority wins on all its issues.
Ever hear of a hotel??
Now granted I wish her were not so lib/moderate on social issues but even there he's not a hard left purist he is more libertarian. Sure I hope we have a strong conservative on the ticket and who knows one may emerge. But I can tell you this I'm not going to sit on my hands and pout of a 100% pure conservative who I agree with on every issue is not the nominee. I would rather have Rudy as CINC than McInsane or God forbid PIAPS so if he's the nominee I will still crawl over broken glass to vote for him.
I've never even heard much media speculation about the problems of electing yet another Bush. I'm just thinking that it might start to seem weird to people...almost like a hereditary presidency.
[Yep. Why do you think the MSM is polling the difference between the more leftist Republicans, and pushing "moderates"?]
I completely agree that it is shameless of the MSM to promote McCain like they do and to think that the Republicans will split about McCain. McCain will simply get beat in the primaries.
On Rudy, the MSM could be in for a rude awakening if he actually wins the primaries and the far right decides to back him without "revolting". Then they would have a juggernaut on their hands...a possible 50 state landslide for the Republican Party.
It is clear that Rudy has to make a few pro-NRA statements soon.
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