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.
Have the Giuliani backers heard of the phrase?
Anyone who thinks Rudy Giuliani is "socially moderate" is delusional.
Start spending your winnings. But don't take any bets on whether or not he'll be attorney general.
Well we don't really know if he's going to run so you may win your bet!
It's not a matter of blaming anyone...this is the political reality. The GOP coalition would be split by nominating a pro-abort, pro-homogamy gun grabber.
Still a stupid idea to let Hillary win. If they are willing to deal with Hillary for 8 years then I feel sorry for them.
We better all start looking, McCain is to old, adn Rudy is as liberal as many of the rats.
I'll be less worried about a President Giuliani if Bush gets to appoint another conservative to the Supreme Court.
Hillary won't be running, either. Not unless the world starts spinning differently on its axis.
"Rudy Heads South"
Do us a favor, Rudy. No hard feelings, but head back home. We're ready for a conservative this time.
I do not see that much of a difference between Hitlery and Rudy to care.
[We better all start looking, McCain is to old]
No. McCain practically endorsed Kerry.
And he tried to sell the Swift Boat Veterans down the river.
Then he recently damaged national security by forcing through a law to say we can't question terrorists.
Franks would take the great state of Texas and the south and Rudy could very well deliver NY, NJ and CT.
Sounds as authentic talking about faith as another New York City native, Howard Dean.
Agreed. Someone needs to inform Rudy that no man, except Jesus, can save anyone. One may be helpful in leading another to Jesus, but only Jesus can save the person and reconcile them with God our Father.
[I'll be less worried about a President Giuliani if Bush gets to appoint another conservative to the Supreme Court.]
Now that is a very reasonable comment.
If Bush appoints another conservative to the bench, there is no problem in getting a landslide President in from 2009-2017 who takes New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and maybe the majority of blue states over to the Republican side.
Talk about delivering the KOS crowd a death sentence.
Here at FR there is such a premium by some on ideological purity...but crushing our real enemies (terrorists and the Cindy Sheehan crowd) and watching the lamentations of their women...is what the game is all about.
How about a draft General Tommy Franks movement started right here on FR. Can't think of a better man with no baggage and he could stand up and tell the American people "Reporting for Duty", and salute properly.......
draft General Tommy Franks
BUMP
It may be for you. But for many of us, the promotion of Constitutional conservatism, because it is right, is of primary importance.
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