Posted on 02/14/2007 7:14:04 AM PST by meg88
Giuliani is Best GOP Hope in Florida February 12, 2007
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Republican Rudy Giuliani holds an early lead in the Sunshine State, according to a poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
47 per cent of respondents in Florida would vote for the former New York City mayor in the 2008 United States presidential election, while 44 per cent would support Democratic New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
In other match-ups, Rodham Clinton leads Arizona senator John McCain by four points, and holds an 18-point advantage over former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. McCain leads former North Carolina senator John Edwards by one point, and Illinois senator Barack Obama by two points.
In 2004, Republican George W. Bush carried Florida’s 27 electoral votes, with 52 per cent of all cast ballots. In 2000, weeks of recounts and court injunctions concluded in a 537-vote victory for Bush over Democrat Al Gore. Since 1972, the only Democrats to win the Sunshine State in a presidential election are Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Bill Clinton in 1996.
Bush is ineligible for a third term in office. The next United States presidential election is scheduled for November 2008.
Polling Data
If the 2008 election for President were being held today, and the candidates were (the Democrat) and (the Republican), for whom would you vote?
Rudy Giuliani (R) 47% - 44% Hillary Rodham Clinton (R) John McCain (R) 43% - 47% Hillary Rodham Clinton (R) Mitt Romney (R) 34% - 52% Hillary Rodham Clinton (R) John McCain (R) 43% - 42% John Edwards (R) John McCain (R) 42% - 40% Barack Obama (R)
No, what is truly idiotic is pushing someone from the far, far left of the GOP as its presidential nominee, given the disasterous electoral history for the GOP when the party drifts leftwards.
Why would you think that? What does a misplaced "i" have to do with being elected? Really, I'm serious. What?
I suppose his running mate will be the Skipper.
No. Pushing Rudy on us in the Primaries is what will help HRC win. Again, you aren't going to pull the true believers away from a (D) but you will lose the support of conservatives (to a third party or apathy) if you propose a RINO.
What, pray tell, is "the base", exactly? And why is it so hard to "hold together"? And if it is, then in what sense is it a "base"?
Pushing a guy at the far left of the party is completely irresponsible given the history of the GOP losing when it drifts leftwards.
Nobody, certainly not "party leaders", is "pushing" Rudy Giuliani. Polls are taken and he typically comes out near the top. The problem is that every time this happens, a bunch of Freepers, seemingly afraid of him for some reason, demonize him and make idiotic threats to defect if he won the nomination. That is what is completely irresponsible.
Google searchs show estimates of 3000-4000 a year. In other words, more children were dismembered each year by this procedure than people who died in the WTC attacks.
Yet you push Rudy because of the WOT but belittle a ban on a procedure that kills more each year than the 9-11 attacks. Pathetic.
Not only does the GOP need Florida (as in I don't see any scenario in which the GOP can win without Florida), Hillary may have Richardson as her running mate, which would strengthen her in Flordia (and several other purple states with large hispanic populations).
This is going to be a tough one.
Rudy's looking real good, electoral college-wise. He holds all the red states, and gathers in a lot of the purple states. This is very positive. But, his margins are thin in many states, meaning that if the war is dragging on, or if the economy were to sour, the other side would probably win.
On the other hand, given Rudy's nationwide appeal, were something good to happen in the war, the odds are good for a solid victory in the electoral college, along with regaining out majorities in Congress and restoring our party's grassroots in a number of states.
In the in-between case of mixed results from Iraq (and elsewhere), it'll be a toss-up.
Losing in 2008 means that the Democrats will pull the plug on Iraq, the same as they did in Vietnam. On the other hand, winning in 2008 means we would be able, almost indefinitely, to support Iraq with financial aid, technical advise, special operations and air power. While I can't say if this would be enough for the cause of freedom in Iraq, my main concern is the cause of freedom in the United States.
We can help the Iraqis, but in the end, their future is for them to determine. Just as our future is for us to determine.
As in being center right and giving everyone in the party something to vote for. Bush II at least was pro-life and not a gun-grabber.
Nobody, certainly not "party leaders", is "pushing" Rudy Giuliani.
Gee, I couldn't tell from the posts on FR about the various elected Republicans supporting Rudy.
Concerning reversing his positions ... don't you like the way people want to back Mitt Romney as the "conservative" alternative to Rudy Guiliani?
Nice collection of bitter losers you have there. Good luck reaching 0.5% in the general election with that pathetic crew.
And if nominated, he will maroon the party on a desert island for at least four years.
Look at Duncan Hunter. Although not 100%, he's a far cry from the others.
As I said in an earlier comment, nobody is "pushing" him. He wins a bunch of these early polls. Polls sample widespread opinion. This is basically the opposite of him being "pushed"; if anything, poll respondents are "pulling"....
and expecting conservatives to hold their noses to vote for the "lesser of two evils".
We have a winner-take-all electoral system. This naturally leads to an equilibrium wherein two major parties dominate most elections. That means that essentially every general election is a choice between the lesser of two evils - like it or not. Grownups should understand and accept this. Particularly after the Perot effect in 1992, which many here seem to have forgotten.
Again, just to be clear, it's fine to oppose Giuliani in the primary - knock yourselves out. But when the general election comes around, if it happens to be Giuliani vs. Clinton, this notion/constant threat of defecting is idiotic and deserves to be condemned as such.
Learn to love coconuts!
It seems the NY dominated MSM types want a NY connection to the next president. It will be NY senator vs Former NY mayor. (remember all AP is routed through the NY offices these days)
All this pro-Guiliani, pro-Hilary stories is to drive money to the 1st tier candidates and force the less known candidates to burn money.
Guiliani is too pro-homosexual marriage for a FL primary. Guiliani is too pro-gun control for a FL primary.
Tell that to the (several) people who've threatened to defect, or made "predictions" of mass defection, should Giuliani be put forth in the general election.
I notice you didn't actually dispute the point I made, you just complained that I made it. bye,
Well, if that's what you honestly think, then ok, we simply have a genuine disagreement. If your opposition to Giuliani is based on a sincere belief that he would minimize (R) chances of defeating Hillary, then I would respect that.
you will lose the support of conservatives (to a third party or apathy) if you propose a RINO.
But if so, that is dumb (of them), and I'm going to say so.
And how many of those 3000-4000 are now being aborted by other means?
Excuse me but did Reagan leave the Democrat party or did it leave him? The GOP is going to go Democrat-lite and call their detractors defective?! This is America. We have a freedom of conscience in this country. The political party is supposed to courting my support, not demanding it. It's a market-based system. If the "leadership" of the GOP thinks they can sell Rudy, let them try. Don't be surprised, though, when market share declines due to lack of market research.
The party is truly becoming Democratic when it demands my support rather than giving me an acceptable product. Consider our "mouthing off" in the primaries a desperate shout of market research.
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