Giuliani's Team Prepares To Expand And "Revamp" His Committee

Hotline Blog - National Journal ^ | 1/18/07

[areafiftyone]

Giuliani's Team Prepares To Expand And "Revamp" His Committee

Political aides to ex-NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) will reorganize his presidential exploratory efforts over the next two weeks, expanding his national finance team and adding staff in early primary states to try to ransform the New York-centric operation into a credible national campaign.

Giuliani backers have run into resistance among major fundraisers and with activists in early primary states because these activists are not convinced that Giuliani actually intends to run, his aides said. In Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, Giuliani lags behind Sen. John McCain and Ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney in recruiting staff.

“A revamping and a ramping up of the finance operation is occurring and will continue to unfold in the days and weeks to come,” a Giuliani insider said.

Giuliani’s exploratory committee will add a half dozen regional finance directors charged with raising money from tens of thousands of Republicans all across the country. Until now, the fundraising operation has been organized around donors in New York and Texas who could contribute the maximum and raise money for Giuliani from their friends. In the past, some of Giuliani’s top advisers have said that Giuliani would not run if he couldn't raise enough money to compete with McCain.

In addition, Giuliani’s team plans to announce senior level staff positions in early primary states. Also, the campaign is close to reaching an agreement with a pollster and media consultant. Aides to Giuliani declined to reveal the names of their expected hires.

The moves are “a recognition that things need to fall into place” in order for Giuliani to be taken seriously as a presidential candidate, the insider said.

This week’s announcement that ex-Rep. Jim Nussle would assist Giuliani in Iowa and the unveiling of four New Hampshire staffers to a Manchester political reporter are the first steps in that process.

“As we continue to expand our fundraising and finance team, the support we are getting is exciting,” said Roy Bailey, Giuliani’s finance chair.

Aides said there was no tension between Giuliani’s protective crew of long-time advisers, and his crop of new advisers, led by Michael DuHaime, the outgoing RNC political director, who was hired to run the campaign itself. They described the campaign expansion as a necessary step in the evolution of Giuliani’s candidacy. And they said that Giuliani himself recognizes the problem and agreed that changes were needed. One small example: statements from Giuliani himself will no longer be distributed by staff from his consulting firm. Instead, they will be sent out in the name of his campaign press aides. [MARC AMBINDER]

[areafiftyone]

((((((RUDY PING))))))

[janetgreen]

The last thing America needs is another liberal president.

[Dark Skies]

How vicious and ugly of you to provoke the Rudy-haters into an apoplectic fit. Shame. ;-)

[TRY ONE]

"Revamp" His Committee ---- means fire the SOB who leaked the sh!t to the press a few weeks ago (i.e. left the CONFIDENTIAL report in the Motel 6)!

[Dark Skies]

In Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, Giuliani lags behind Sen. John McCain and Ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney in recruiting staff.

That's proof Rudy's a serial procrastinator.

[bondjamesbond]

Not looking good for Rudy. Staff shake-ups this early in the game are not a good sign...

Rudy and John McCain are rebound guys. We need to drop the Rebound Guys and start looking for Mr. Right (Wing).

[Antoninus]

Giuliani backers have run into resistance among major fundraisers and with activists in early primary states because these activists are not convinced that Giuliani actually intends to run, his aides said. In Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, Giuliani lags behind Sen. John McCain and Ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney in recruiting staff.

Sounds like trouble in Camp RINO. Gosh, I hope he stays in long enough to dilute the liberal GOP vote so that a real conservative can get the nomination...





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[babaloo]

I posted on another thread that MoveOn is running anti-McCain commercials here in Iowa concerning the Iraq build-up. I am guessing the anti-Rudy ones will start soon.

[areafiftyone]

LOL! Now where did I learn to do that????

[Antoninus]

Aides said there was no tension between Giuliani’s protective crew of long-time advisers, and his crop of new advisers, led by Michael DuHaime, the outgoing RNC political director, who was hired to run the campaign itself.

Is anyone else concerned that the outgoing RNC political director is chosing to work for the most liberal GOP pre-candidate--bar none?

What the heck is going on over there at the RNC anyway? Maybe they really DO hate the base after all...

[Blackirish]

"As we continue to expand our fundraising and finance team, the support we are getting is exciting,” said Roy Bailey, Giuliani’s finance chair."

---

Gearing up for the battle!

Lets get ready to ruuummmble!

[areafiftyone]

I'm not a big McCain fan but I'm on McCain's side in this fight. Move-On is a disgusting low-life website.

[Antoninus]

I posted on another thread that MoveOn is running anti-McCain commercials here in Iowa concerning the Iraq build-up. I am guessing the anti-Rudy ones will start soon.

If they're smart, they won't bother. If Giuliani got the nomination (God forbid!), it pretty much guarantees a sweeping Democrat victory.

[Dark Skies]

Saaaay, isn't that a pic of Fred Grandy on The Love Boat. I didn't know he was running in '08.

[areafiftyone]

ROFLMAO!!! It does kinda look like him!

[areafiftyone]

Everyone is going to the candidate they think will win. Actually Romney and McCain took most of the big Republican advisors.

[Antoninus]

Everyone is going to the candidate they think will win. Actually Romney and McCain took most of the big Republican advisors.

Which is why those campaigns need a lot of money. Those guys don't come cheap.

That said, as your threads are demonstrating, you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear--no matter how many high-priced advisors Rudy McRomney manage to attract to their campaign staffs.

[Peach]

I see the majority of Rudy haters haven't shown up yet.

I live in South Carolina which is one of the most conservative states in the country. Monday I went to the town's monthly GOP meeting and pretty clearly the majority of those attending liked Rudy, although McCain is doing quite well in the state.

[areafiftyone]

LOL! They are probably on that other Rudy thread. They'll be here when they get tired of that one. Although it's over 300 posts already! Rudy did very well in the latest South Carolina poll! McCain is pretty much stationary in second place - if he keeps this up he has a good a chance as Rudy to win.