Posted on 05/23/2006 9:51:04 AM PDT by Blackirish
May 23, 2006 -- IN my new book ("Can She Be Stopped?"), I suggest that the Republican best suited to the challenge of preventing Hillary Clinton's ascension to the Oval Of fice in 2008 is Rudy Giuliani. A Fox News Opinion Dynamics poll released yesterday offers some strong ballast for the idea: In a head-to-head matchup, Rudy beats Hillary 49 percent to 40 percent, the best showing among all Republican contenders.
By contrast, John McCain has a 46-to-42 advantage over Hillary - besting her but not as decisively as Rudy does. Rudy is viewed favorably by 64 percent of those asked, McCain by 49 percent (Hillary: 50 percent).
And this is not a poll of Republicans alone: The respondents are 41 percent Democrat, 32 percent Republican and 21 percent independent.
It's probably not surprising that Rudy wins in a head-to-head contest for the presidency. After all, Hillary is a lightning rod - while he, once a hugely controversial figure, has become beloved.
But what about in a Republican primary? Can Rudy possibly win?
In surveys of Republican primary voters, two names top every list - Giuliani and McCain. Each gets support from around 30 percent, with every other possible contender hovering around 2 or 3 percent at most.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Winner!
No question about it.
"Well, except for the fact that he continues to poll well in GA, better than anyone else in the GOP."
Regardless of what you have read, he will kill the GOP in the South.
I'll vote, but I'll leave the spot for POTUS blank if he is on the ticket.
Giuliani was never controversial. The ultralibs hated him, sure, but that's because he not only kicked their asses politically on their home turf, but also because he proved their entire ideologies wrong, almost singlehandedly turning one of the most dangerous cities in America into the safest.
Even if 9/11 had never happened, he'd still probably be topping the '08 polls right now.
If Rudy wants to stop her, stop her at the NY senate seat. He won't make it to the WH. If anything, it'll give the hildebeast the WH.
Candidate Rudy also placed his name on the Liberal line and proceeded to give Liberals top jobs in his administration---- one of Rudy's Liberal appointees, Russel Harding -- son of Liberal bigwag Ray Harding---stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from the city, and enjoyed gay porn and trips with gay buddies on the taxpyaers dime. Russel's brother also got a big NYC job. For all intents and purposes Rudy-R and Hillary-D are scrounging for the same votes.
Rudy is politically ambitious to the point of obsession---he will do and say whatever is necessary to further his political ambitions.
As, for example, when Rudy endorsed Democrat Mario Cuomo for governor (over Repub Pataki who won) b/c Rudy calculated it was in his own best interests to have a Dem in Albany when he decided to run for Governor (this was pre-911). Even now, around NY politics---you hear talk about "Giuliani Democrats."
If Giuliani thought it was in his best interests, he would run as a Democrat without blinking an eyelash.
He would win NY and NJ. I can't see too many Red States going for Hillary.
Humor ping.
The lack of a natural successor at VP and absence, at this point, of a viable conservative candidate are gonna get us screwed one way or another.
My comments had nothing to do with how important the war on Islamic terrorism is to the electorate at large. It was just to point out that part of the GOP message has been that it is more important than dem social agenda concerns.
Unless there is another major terrorist attack in the U.S. in the next two years, the GOP has no chance of running on that message again in 2008.
What *will* hurt him is Gun Control. Folks love their guns and that issue will hit closer to home for more conservatives that Gay Rights and Wrongs and Abortion.
TS
I would hesitate to listen to the New York Post for advice on who to represent Republicans.
I don't agree that Guliani is nearly as good a choice as Ms. Rice (LoVE yYA CONDI!)
And dont let her denials foold you- she could run. But if she even HINTED at the possibility right now that is all the media would focus on for the next 2 years.
Actually he has the best chance for both of any candidate. And he can win over many of those opposed to him for insubstantial reasons. Fanatics won't support him but they are a tiny minority of the electorate. For every "social conservative" who goes off in a snit two others will take their place.
Ii lived in nyc at the time and Rudy was limping badly to the end of his second term when 911 happened. His perceived poise and leadership during the 911 terrorist attacks made his national reputation.
If 911 didn't happen, he would be a partner in a law firm now, the elephant's burial ground of NY politics. Just ask Mario Cuomo. :-)
But we might as well nominate Hillary herself than nominate Giuliani.
He's anti-gun, pro-abortion (even partial-birth abortion), pro-illegal-immigration, anti-Bill of Rights and pro-same-sex-marriage.
What are the significant policy differences between the two? There are some, but not all that many.
Why can't we have a full red blooded conservative? Why should conservatives have to settle? I like and respect Giulliani but he is a gun grabbing, Pro-gay marriage, Pro Choice kind of candidate. If it wasn't for his hawkish position on defense he as a candidate would be inconceivable. Jpod is a pseudo conservative. He is a beltway conservative not a grass roots conservative.
A Guiliani-Allen ticket will kick @$$.
The irony is that the GOP really had to twist itself into knots to make it seem as if the "war on terror" was a serious priority in 2004. Any credibility it had on this subject pretty much got tossed out the window in 2003 and 2004 when things like Medicare prescription drugs and Federal "Do Not Call" legislation were seen as important political issues.
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