A 'Good Chance' Giuliani Will Run In '08

AP via Yahoo ^ | 02/03/07 | JIM DAVENPORT

[BunnySlippers]

By JIM DAVENPORT, Associated Press Writer

He keeps an itinerary that has all the makings of a full-fledged presidential candidate: South Carolina this weekend, New Hampshire the one before.

Which is what Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, says he's leaning toward becoming.

"There's a real good chance," Giuliani told The Associated Press on Saturday, after a 30-minute speech and question-and-answer session with party leaders in South Carolina. In year, they will put on the first-in-the-South GOP presidential primary.

On Giuliani's first visit to New Hampshire last weekend since setting up the committee, he told reporters he'd received a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and support from people.

But he said he had not yet decided whether he could make a "unique contribution" toward strengthening the nation that would justify a run for president.

He has emphasized his steady hand dealing with the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. However, his moderate stances on gun control, abortion, gay rights and other social issues could be liabilities for him in a GOP presidential primary that includes hard-core conservatives as a central voting group.

For instance, in November, South Carolina voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional ban on same-sex unions.

"The fact is I appeal to conservative Christians the way I appeal to everyone else," Giuliani said at a news conference. "I don't think you have separate appeals to people."

Giuliani formed a presidential exploratory committee in November to prepare for a possible bid for the GOP nomination in 2008. It lets him raise money and travel the country, gauging how much support there could be for him.

In his few first weeks, Giuliani took in $1.4 million. He collected donations online, and held a major fundraising event in New York in December.

Financial documents show that by the start of this year Giuliani had about $1 million available, having spent money to set up campaign headquarters, buy equipment and hire workers.

The Republicans' top tier of candidates for 2008 includes Arizona Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback (news, bio, voting record).

Giuliani's visit to Columbia wrapped up a busy week in the state for White House hopefuls. Romney was in the capital on Tuesday and Brownback on Friday.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

A year away from the election. Right.

A year is a minute in politics.

Perhaps. But, they do have this in their favor: At least, unlike Rudy, they actually have conservative credentials to run on.

Check your history textbook. Name how many Congressman or Senators got elected President.

So did Clinton and Mussolini. Doesn't mean we want them in public office, or running our party.

Specious comparison. Please stop comparing Giuliani to Mussolini. It's like calling Bush Hitler, something that the Left does.

[narses]

This is a partial transcript from "Hannity & Colmes," July 20, 2005...

COLMES: Now, on abortion — now, you are pro-choice, right?

GIULIANI: Yes.

COLMES: You're a pro-choice Republican.

GIULIANI: I am.

~snip~

COLMES: Now, Roe vs. Wade -- You are pro-choice. How important is it to you as a pro-choice Republican to have a pro-choice on the court as someone...

GIULIANI: That is not the critical factor. And what's important to me is to have a very intelligent, very honest, very good lawyer on the court. And he fits that category, in the same way Justice Ginsburg fit that category.

I mean, she was — she maybe came at it from a very different political background, very qualified lawyer, very smart person. Lots of Republicans supported her.

[My GOP]

Rudy is a fiscal, domestic, and foreign policy conservative that supports strict constructionist. This doesn't describe Hillary or Obama at all.

[EternalVigilance]

Being pragmatic in our thinking we all know we can't really stop abortions. Therefore voting solely on this issue very unpragmatic. I hate abortions too but I realize that regardless of how many pro-life presidents we elect, its just not going to stop.

You're proof of the aptness of my tagline.

[My GOP]

See Post 119.

[narses]

Remember, Rudy is allied with NARAL. Defend that rather than dance the dance you just did. If you can.

[BW2221]

"He's garnering a great deal of support within the party.

By what used to be known as the Rockefeller wing of the GOP ... the same people that support Lincoln Chaffee and Olympia Snow.

[My GOP]

I question you're perception of reality if you think we can totally eradicate abortions.

[EternalVigilance]

Name how many Congressman or Senators got elected President.

I'll do that when you name one mayor who has done so.

[narses]

I’m pro-choice. I’m pro-gay rights, Giuliani said. He was then asked whether he supports a ban on what critics call partial-birth abortions. “No, I have not supported that, and I don’t see my position on that changing,” he responded. Source: CNN.com, “Inside Politics” Dec 2, 1999 http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Rudy_Giuliani_Abortion.htm

ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES (November 14, 2006)

RUDY GIULIANI (R), FORMER MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY: I'm pro- choice. I'm pro-gay rights.

KING: Giuliani supports a woman's right to an abortion, and back in 1999, he opposed a federal ban on late-term abortions.

GIULIANI: No, I have not supported that, and I don't see my position on that changing.

KING: Immigration could be another presidential landmine. Back in 1996, Mayor Giuliani went to federal court to challenge new federal laws requiring the city to inform the federal government about illegal immigrants.

JEFFREY: He took the side of illegal immigrants in New York City against the Republican Congress.

KING: Giuliani opposes same-sex marriage but as mayor, he supported civil unions and extending health and other benefits to gay couples. He also supported the assault weapons ban and other gun control measures opposed by the National Rifle Association.

GIULIANI: I'm in favor of gun control. I'm pro-choice.

Republican Big-Wigs Support Pro-Abortion Event in NY

Pro-abortion Governor George Pataki and New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who also supports unrestricted abortion, are co-chairs of the 2000 Choice Award Presentation to be held on May 30 at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. The event is sponsored by the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition, a group that is campaigning for the removal of the pro-life plank from the Republican National Platform.


http://www.nationalreview.com/murdock/murdock200503010743.asp

[trumandogz]

In his interview on Fox News the night of the State of the Union rudy AGAIN CONFIRMED that HE IS PRO CHOICE.

[EternalVigilance]

I question you're perception of reality if you think we can totally eradicate abortions.

I question whether people like you really want to stop one.

[narses]

[My GOP]

He's AGAINST gay marriage. Now as far as homos go, personally, I disagree with their life style but as long as they do what they do in the privacy of their own home I really don't care and nobody else should either, especially not the federal government. The POTUS doesn't have the power to stop people from being gay. And he surely shouldn't be interferring in people's private lives. So therefore voting on the basis of this issue doesn't make much sense.

[My GOP]

I hate abortions but I'm just pragmatic and realistic. What can I say?

[flashbunny]

Thanks for the ammunition!

[EternalVigilance]

A year is a minute in politics.

And it takes a candidate about one minute to flame out. What will your reputation be around here when your hero inevitably does?

[EternalVigilance]

I hate abortions but I'm just pragmatic and realistic. What can I say?

"I repent?"

[narses]

NARAL. He is allied with and praises NARAL. How will the Southern Baptist voter react? The orthodox Catholic? The evangelical? You babble about trivia while ignoring that your gungrabbing crossdresser candidate is allied with the most liberal, hard left hate group in America.

[narses]

My pleasure. Exposing RINO's is an act of charity.