Posted on 02/20/2007 6:02:13 AM PST by areafiftyone
Daniel Weintraub, the respected Sacramento Bee political columnist, says it is looking more and more as if former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani can win the GOP presidential nomination. Writes Weintraub:
Only a few months ago, conventional wisdom throughout much of the political world was that former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani might make a competitive Republican candidate for president in a general election, but he could never win his party's nomination because conservative primary voters would reject him.
Now, suddenly, that wisdom seems to have shifted, and as Giuliani trouped through California last week, he was wowing conservatives with his charisma, his gift for sounding spontaneous on the stump and his call for bold national leadership.
"Rudy" - as he is known everywhere - has already been accepted as one of three top-tier Republican candidates, along with Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. With California and several other large industrial states set to move their primaries up to early February, Giuliani might be more formidable than ever.
"All three candidates have challenges when it comes to proving themselves to conservatives," said Jon Fleischman, a party activist whose Flashreport.org Web site is considered by insiders to be the voice of conservative Republicans in the state. "Giuliani has just as good a shot as the other two of trying to articulate to conservatives why, as they compromise to pick a candidate, it should be him."
Giuliani just might be the perfect Republican candidate for California, a state that prefers Republicans who are not-so-conservative on certain social issues.
(((((RUDY PING))))
Before declaring Rudy the winner, wait and see how well Rudy holds up to all the ads exposing his liberal positions. Rudy has charisma on his side, but he has some big hurdles to climb.
I had to do some driving yesterday, and listened to local talk radio, the show that comes on after Rush. The host asked people to call in with their '08 choice. Mind you this is a conservative-leaning show. Almost all were for Rudy, a few for Romney.
Imagine if he is able to win that state's electoral votes......it would go a long way to defeating the evil klintons.
I hope those ads aren't placed by his GOP opponents, dooming whatever chance we have of retaining the WH in 2008.
Sounds just Mike Dukakis wowing the Reagan democrats in 1988.
I thought I read on another thread Rudy hired Arthur Laffer to advise him on economic issues. Can anyone confirm? Bueller?
I can see him winning California. He's been there and they seem to really love him.
Of course they will be. Do you expect Rudy to get elected without his positions being exposed?
WOW! but.. but... I thought he was a blah blah blah... you know what! LOL! ;-)
To them, his actual positions or philosophy is irrelevant - its can the person win. That's who will get the campaign cash. the warchest, the media and the top campaign consultants.
Overcoming that sort of playing field will be nearly impossible for any other candidate.
Even the strongest Anti-Rudy-ites have to admit.
At this point (and again it is early) the man has a lot of momentum.
Attributing his numbers to the MSM loving him is doing something I deplore - it's telling people they cannot think for themselves - instead they march to the media's drum beat.
NO WAY.
If that were true - Hillary would be killing Rudy in the poles - and she is NOT.
I don't think it's in the bag yet, but certainly the tide is in his favor. And winning is very important. What do we accomplish if we don't? What is better about a Dem win, than our electing someone who gets us to even 50% of what we believe?? People are looking for another Reagan but how likely is that? He was unique. So do we go with a GOP winner, or get stuck with Hillary/Obama??? I know what makes sense to me...
I remember Howard Dean having a lot of momentum early on, too. What happened to him?
C'mon now, I've been flamed many a time for even suggesting Duncan Hunter would have a difficult time with the media here on FR. Shhh don't mentions DH's name on this site, they'll find you and the lambasting will begin ;)
The powers that be in the Republican party tend to be Rino-leaning, but they don't always get their way in who the nominee becomes.
You're right - but do you honestly think Rudy is going to have
a nervous breakdown on stage.
I don't think so.
But I take your point -
Rino Rudy can not win. He will split the party and many social conservatives and evangelicals will either stay home or go third party. I know I will never vote for the liberal.
Many of us are ready for the party to split, if the "our way or the highway" policy is presented as a mandate.
The days when the constricted policies of social conservatives
ruled our party are coming to an end - there is no doubt about that.
With the state of the world right now - we're more interested in leadership than we are in pushing lifestyle choices down the throats of the country.
While pure ideology is decent and respectable, however it is no longer
the guidepost for most Americans.
Other voices will rules the day.
In the mean time - we can all keep our own houses in order and ensure our children are raised with the values we embrace - while our leaders do their job.
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