Dear qlangley,
I think that Mr. Giuliani's crossover appeal is wildly overestimated here. The fact is that the vast majority of folks who think that Mr. Bush is right on the war on terror are already in the Republican camp. Most of the folks who are liberal are dead-set against Mr. Bush's handling of the war on terror, and if Mr. Giuliani is going to run as the successor to Mr. Bush's war efforts, he stands to pick up very few liberal votes at all.
In fact, Mr. Giuliani, to the degree that he identifies himself as the most hawkish candidate on the war on terror, substantially reduces his crossover appeal, especially if the Democrats don't do something stupid and nominate a pure cut-and-runner.
There are plenty of Democrats who can make a very credible appeal to moderates on the war on terror, including Mrs. Clinton.
sitetest
>>especially if the Democrats don't do something stupid and nominate a pure cut-and-runner.
Yes, a lot depends on who the other candidate is. It also depends on how things - including Iraq and the economy - develop over the next two years.
Currently, there are only three ways of assessing how candidates will fare against each other: opinion polls; fundraising appeal; and judgement. This far in advance of an election, judgement is probably the most important. It seems that you and I have made different judgements.
It is possible that nearer the time we will find out which of us was right. But then, so many other factors come into play, that it is very possible we won't.