Posted on 02/13/2007 9:04:27 AM PST by meg88
'America's mayor' in strong position for '08
With the 2008 race off to a fast start, there have already been some big surprises (Obama, anyone?). But the biggest shocker so far has to be how strong "America's mayor" is running in the polls.
The most recent poll has Giuliani leading the Republican field by five points (with 31 percent to John McCain's 26 percent, according to Real Clear Politics). True, it's early. But the numbers do reflect a deep reservoir of support among some GOP primary voters.
Giuliani has a few things going in his favor. For starters, he has incredible name recognition. In what's shaping up to be a field of outsized personalities for both parties, Giuliani may well loom largest. He formed a bond with Americans in the wake of Sept 11., and his handling of that event is still strongly appreciated.
Largely because of this, the National Journal noted that Giuliani enters the race more admired and more-liked than "any presidential candidate since Eisenhower."
As is probably apparent, this columnist is elated at the prospect of a Giuliani candidacy. I've long admired him not only for his leadership after Sept. 11, but for his take-no-prisoners style when governing New York.
Here's one example: For decades, education in New York City followed a strict routine. The mayor went to Albany to request more funds, and the sate legislators grudgingly granted it. That changed with Giuliani.
When legislators asked him the almost scripted question of whether additional money was needed for city schools, Giuliani stunned the assembly by saying that the system was so broken, more money was useless. Instead, he promised a "relentless campaign" to "literally crush the cost of bureaucracy in the school system."
The best Giuliani moment, however, had to be his showdown with the late Palestinian leader (and terrorist enabler) Yasser Arafat. When Giuliani was a U.S. attorney, he investigated some of Arafat's activities - and learned that he was hardly the man of peace commonly supposed.
So when Arafat was in town for a U.N. conference and showed up uninvited to a concert at the Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, the mayor knew exactly what to do. He kicked him out.
The incident caused an uproar. Former mayor Ed Koch declared that "Giuliani has behavioral problems," and the Clinton administration was angered at Giuliani's boldness. Giuliani, however, was not swayed. "My only regret," he told an aide, "was that I didn't throw him out myself." Actions like this earned Giuliani the ire of Democrats everywhere in the '90s.
If he goes deep into the primaries, liberals will undoubtedly dredge this and other incidents up in an attempt to portray him as racially insensitive. But nothing will reassure Republicans that Giuliani can be trusted more than the sight of Al Sharpton denouncing him.
So what does this all mean? There's no denying that Giuliani will have a tough time getting the nomination, but it's hardly impossible. As Sam Brownback, George Pataki, or any other Republican no-names could tell you, there are worse places to be than at 31 percent.
Andrew Buttaro is a Heights staff columist. He welcomes comments at buttaroa@bcheights.com.
Go Rudy! He is looking better day by day. Who would have thought that in 2008 we may have a decent shot of taking California and New York?
Last time we took California was with Ronald Reagan.
Okay, I have openly DESPISED his candidacy, and would sooner vote for Hillary in the 2008 election to save the issues I care about in the GOP. But I love this quote:
---"Giuliani, however, was not swayed. "My only regret," he told an aide, "was that I didn't throw him out myself."---
Actually it was in 1988, with Bush Senior.
Regards, Ivan
He is certainly liberal enough to win any blue state.
Bttt!
Thanks for the correction. I didn't know that. That is stunning that Senior President Bush was able to take California. It seems almost impossible now.
I don't think so:
Hillary leads Dems, Republicans in poll: NY voters would choose senator over Obama, Giuliani 2/4/07
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1783559/posts
Hillary 53%
Rudy 32%
A 21-point deficit in New York State.
of course Bush '88 was pretty much a third election win for the Gipper. On his own in '92, he didn't fare so well.
Giuliani is NO Ronald Reagan.
We carried California with Bush #41. I would hope that
Gov. Arnold would actively support and push for Guilani
and then it would become very intresing....If we in
California push for this..it would mean a big boost for
all - Congress and Senate..makin '08....the big one
for our guys... JK
I vote on the issues of individual liberty and freedom. Rudy looks like a collectivist true believer to me. Is he really different than any of the leftist candidates the Dems are fielding?
That's true.
My mayor is pro second amendment, pro-life, pro-traditional-marriage and doesn't dress in drag.
Now op-eds from COLLEGE NEWSPAPERS are news?? This "The Heights" is the paper of Boston College for Pete's sake. What's next, articles from High School newspapers????
This cr@p is nothing but...
So golly gee whiz, I'm sure glad that this COLLEGE STUDENT Andrew Buttaro piped in with Rudy endorsement. I can't wait to hear from his little sister whose in 7th grade.
He will be the next President IMHO.
He will be the next President IMHO.
Impossible?
No!
Just be a liberal, and you can win both states. What is impossible about that?
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