Giuliani Files to Explore Run for President

N Y Times ^ | 11/22/2006 | SEWELL CHAN

[Sabramerican]

.......On Nov. 15, Mr. Giuliani met in Manhattan with supporters who could form the core of a national fund-raising effort, including Thomas O. Hicks, the owner of the Texas Rangers; Mel M. Immergut, the chairman of the New York law firm Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy; and William E. Simon Jr., an investor who ran for governor of California in 2002.

Mr. Giuliani crisscrossed the country this year, visiting 25 states to campaign with or raise money for Republican candidates, according to his political action committee, Solutions America. But political analysts say his liberal views on social issues like abortion and gay rights could be a liability in a Republican primary.

“Everyone I’ve talked to keeps dismissing him for one reason or another: that he’s from New York, that he’s moderate, that he’s wrong on one social issue or another,” said Frank I. Luntz, a Republican pollster who worked for Mr. Giuliani in his 1993 and 1997 mayoral campaigns. “They don’t know Rudy Giuliani, and they don’t understand the electorate. The public is demanding intelligent leadership and is far more focused on personal attributes of the candidates than on specific policy issues.”

Mr. Luntz said he believed that the midterm elections, which cost Republicans control of Congress, would lead party members to consider an unorthodox candidate like Mr. Giuliani.

“There’s a great fear among the G.O.P. — and it’s a legitimate fear — that they could end up losing everything,” he said. “In times of genuine crisis, leadership matters a heck of a lot more than anything else.”

[EternalVigilance]

Seems pretty obvious.

[EternalVigilance]

Ah, a "squeaky clean" politician who can lie as good as Bill Clinton. Just what we need...

/s

[thinkthenpost]

I understand about prostate cancer and bad timing, but it he wasn't willing to take on Hillary in a punishing campaign for Senate, why does he know have the stomach for a Presidential campaign very possibly against the same woman?

[NeoCaveman]

Ah, a "squeaky clean" politician who can lie as good as Bill Clinton. Just what we need...

So you admit he has the political skills of Clinton without the baggage.

[EternalVigilance]

No. I'm saying he's got some talent as a liar, and that he's as liberal as Clinton.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Then you're in favor of public financing and spending caps on WH elections.

[EternalVigilance]

Mr. Giuliani crisscrossed the country this year, visiting 25 states to campaign with or raise money for Republican candidates, according to his political action committee, Solutions America.

Gingrich is using this same meaningless pap as the name for his 527 as well.

See my tagline...

[Reagan Man]

>>>>Is Rudi a fiscal conservative? He must have some kind of track-record on that.

As Mayor of NYC, Giuliani stemmed the tide of a growing socialist taxation and spending agenda, to more traditional liberal taxation and spending levels. Rudy left behind a $2.0-billion deficit and a $42-billion debt. With support from the city council, NYC`s 12.5% surtax on the rich was abolished, but Rudy didn't do away with the city income tax. Rudy reduced the welfare roles, but he added 15,000 teachers to the city`s employment roles, increasing the membership of both the AFT and the NEA. What Rudy did as mayor of NYCity, doesn't make him a fiscal conservative. Rudy remains a liberal to his political core.

[Blackirish]

“In times of genuine crisis, leadership matters a heck of a lot more than anything else.”

Frank Lunz

---

First Fred Barnes now Frank Lunz...it's finally dawning on the Repub establishment that Rudy is extremely popular with the base and time is running short.

It's Rudy's to lose.

[EternalVigilance]

Bwahahahahahaha.....

[Blackirish]

BUT...BUT..BUT...Just two weeks ago Frank Lunz was an FR HERO!!! for saying in focus groups Allen reminded people of Reagan......

Now that he says what you don't want to hear he must be on Rudy's payroll..

[NeoCaveman]

Rudy's got to run first.

Dick Cheney set up an exploratory commission in 1996 but he didn't run.

Right now there are two men locking up the fund raisers and the organizations. They are McCain and Romney.

There might be time left for someone else to jump into the fray and lay the ground work but times running out.

[twonie]

I don't believe Rudy is popular with the base, I believe he is popular with the beltway crowd and the pundits. I personally will never vote for him so long as he remains pro abortion and anti gun.

[NapkinUser]

it's finally dawning on the Repub establishment that Rudy is extremely popular with the base and time is running short.

It's Rudy's to lose.

[Blackirish]

Your right.....Romney could easily be the nominee.

I think there is just too much deep seated animosity towards McCaine.

....and he's looking a little long of tooth.

[Blackirish]

A poll taken in August of knowledgeable Iowa caucus voters (the base) who are pretty darn clear where Rudy stands.

An early poll out of Iowa done by a Davenport, Iowa-based firm called Victory Enterprises, has Giuliani up on top in Iowa:

Giuliani 30
McCain 17.3
Frist 6.5
Romney 4.5
Allen 3.5
Pataki 3.3
Huckabee 2.5
Brownback 2.5

[kjo]

It's time to jettison the anti-abortion stance. Fact is, most women want the right to rid their body of an unwanted fetus. That's not going to change. If Roe were ever overturned, we'd hand the presidency to Hillary.

Sad but true.

[EternalVigilance]

Fact is, most women want the right to rid their body of an unwanted fetus.

You're disgusting.

[EternalVigilance]

I bet I know the Iowa Caucus nominating electorate a bit better than you do. The poll you cite is meaningless.

Since Reagan, every delegate that has come out of Iowa has pledged to support only pro-life nominees, and the continuation of the Reagan platform.

That could, theoretically, save McCain, but your boy is going to get spanked hard.

If he doesn't, there is no hope for the GOP anyhow. A total abandonment of its core principles will spell its electoral doom.

If Carville isn't paying you and your ilk, he should be.

[NapkinUser]

Opinion polls now are totally meaningless. You're setting yourself up for a real let-down when polls a week or so from the Iowa caucus comes out and then they actually take place.