Inside Move: Giulani's Trip to Hollywood, Republican Hopeful Takes Tour of Tinsletown

Variety Magazine ^ | Posted: Sun., Jan. 28, 2007, 10:00pm PT | Ted Johnson

[meg88]

While much attention in the past week has been paid to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama's courting of the entertainment industry, Republican presidential hopeful Rudolph Giuliani is planning to visit Los Angeles today for a fund-raiser.

Giuliani, who has not yet publicly declared whether he will run for president, will raise money for his exploratory committee at the Pacific Palisades home of Bill Simon, who ran for governor of California in 2002 and is spearheading the former New York mayor's fund-raising efforts in the state.

Giuliani is planning another fund-raising visit to the Los Angeles area in March.

Although overall Hollywood giving skews Democratic, the GOP candidates have been able to count on a healthy amount of high-profile donors.

Arizona Sen. John McCain visited on Jan. 12 for a fund-raiser hosted by MGM chairman Harry Sloan and others, such as Univision chief A. Jerrold Perenchio and MGM Mirage CEO Terrence Lanni.

Although McCain has been courting industry donors and laying the groundwork for a run for quite some time, what will be interesting is to see the extent of Giuliani's support in the entertainment industry.

His moderate-to-liberal stances on social issues and conservative positions on national security and the economy could have some resonance among Hollywood centrists.

Giuliani already has the support of former studio chief Frank Price and writer-director Lionel Chetwynd, among others.

Earlier this month, the New York Daily News obtained and published the contents of a strategy memo that showed Giuliani was looking to Brad Grey to help round up Hollywood support, even though the memo stated that the Paramount CEO is uncommitted.

[TitansAFC]

Giuliani looking to Hollyweird for support.

Ugh. Just fitting......

[ASA Vet]

[areafiftyone]

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

[taxcontrol]

I will not vote for Rudy or McCain under ANY circumstances.

[Jessica24]

Does this mean he's going to start popping up in random movies like McCain? I hope so. I can't vote for a candidate until he or she trades witty barbs with Jay Leno. It's just not American.

[meg88]

I'd vote for Rudy over the Hildebeast.

[Sans-Culotte]

I'd vote for Rudy over the Hildebeast.

Ditto.

[TitansAFC]

Giuliani/Baldwin 2008!!!!

[freespirited]

I will not vote for Rudy or McCain under ANY circumstances.

Then you will be voting for Hillary.

I *despise* McKook. But I will vote for whoever the GOP nominates.

[Revenge of Sith]

"Giuliani, who has not yet publicly declared whether he will run for president, will raise money for his exploratory committee at the Pacific Palisades home of Bill Simon, who ran for governor of California in 2002"

Ironically, the same Republicans who vowed never to support Giuliani for president strongly supported Simon for governor in 2002.

[kinoxi]

The MSM push for Rudy leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I personally have been trying to reserve judgment believing that it is too early in the race and more candidates may likely decide to run but... If he's the MSM's golden boy, it makes me wary.

[George W. Bush]

Rudy to Hollywood: "Support me and I will destroy the conservative wing of the Republican party forever."

[psjones]

I'll take Giuliani over Hillary any day of the week. I can't even take watching that woman on tv.

[areafiftyone]

Support me and I will destroy the conservative wing of the Republican party forever."

It's already destroyed. Take a look at 2006. The Moderates and independents told the Conservatives to clean up their act.

[subterfuge]

I will not vote for Rudy or McCain under ANY circumstances.

Same here.

[meg88]

Rudy will have to to a Liddy Dole and slightly modulate some of his positions on gays & life to even compete in the GOP primaries.

[Carry_Okie]

Ironically, the same Republicans who vowed never to support Giuliani for president strongly supported Simon for governor in 2002.

That apparent irony is not what you think. The two go a long way back together. Simon once served as Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, working under then-U.S. Attorney Rudy Giuliani. So Rudy supported Simon in his run for governor. It is therefore no surprise that Simon would reciprocate.

[TitansAFC]

---"It's already destroyed. Take a look at 2006. The Moderates and independents told the Conservatives to clean up their act."---

You'd better hope not. Ain't too many CEOs going door-to-door these days for the GOTV. And money alone, like it or not, won't win the Presidency.

Fifteen of the top 20 GOP grassroots organizations might sit out a Rudy run. And I doubt the "Chamber" will be taking vacation time off to work for free.

Be careful what you wish for.

[George W. Bush]

Rudy will have to to a Liddy Dole and slightly modulate some of his positions on gays & life to even compete in the GOP primaries.

This is what these liberal FReepers won't recognize (or just refuse to admit). Rudy is a liberal, across the board. That is the first fact about him.