Posted on 02/03/2007 1:17:10 PM PST by 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.
See Post 119 and 134.
See Post 134.
See Post 119.
Right. You embrace a RINO and dispense with the babies. 3,000 a day die thanks to liberalism. And that seems to work for you.
Squishiness.
Someone that supports conservative domestic policies like school choice, deregulation of industry, privitaztion of social security, ect. As someone that follows politics you certainly should have known this. Its really common sense.
See Post 119.
George Pataki can't win the general, so no. Electability is also a major factor in who we should nominate.
Yawn. A RINO is a RINO. A babykilling group like NARAL get's your guys praise. He is a liberal.
Some that supports a strong national defense and a pro-American foreign policy that doesn't bow down to the UN, ect. As someone that follows politics, you should know this. Its really common sense.
No, I'm just pragmatic and realistic unlike the all or nothing extremist on here.
It wasn't all that long ago -- about four years, to be exact -- that George Pataki did something that Rudy Giuliani has never done . . . win a statewide election in New York.
See Post 119.
And how has Rudy Giuliani distinguished himself on that count?
The Republicans are unpopular right now. Iraq isn't going well and the general public hates it. Its going to take a special Republican whom moderates and independents like and trust to win in 2008. If you don't know the difference between candidates that are electable and unelectable, I'm sorry.
If what you're saying is true, then the winning candidate in 2008 is going to be someone who promises to cut and run from Iraq. That sounds a lot more like Hillary Clinton or John Kerry than Rudy Giuliani, doesn't it?
Any Republican who wants to win in 2008 is going to be in the uncomfortable position of having to repudiate the current administration for botching the war in Iraq. That sure doesn't sound like a recipe for success to me.
Most moderates and independents don't like the way the war has been run but they really do want to win. With Rudy they know they have someone that is competent and a great leader that can keep the country safe, keep the terrorist from taking over in Iraq, confront Iran, ect.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1778726/posts?page=376
Yes, he's a strict constructionist.
Do you have any evidence of this -- and by this I mean evidence that also indicates what the word "win" means?
Yes, there was a poll posted yesterday that says Rudy has a favorability rating among independents and moderates of 70%. He leads all polls and has for two years now. And thats my analysis as someone that holds a political science degree from Wake Forest University.
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