[My GOP]

Sorry, I forgot about Goldwater in 1964. But I think we can assume Eisenhower pretty much was the frontrunner in 1952. Yes, its still early but Rudy is still surging just as the election is getting more coverage.

[flashbunny]

"Yes, its still early but Rudy is still surging just as the election is getting more coverage."

And if you're thinking that won't change as people find out the truth about him, well...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1793173/posts?page=100

"One-third of voters take issue with a presidential candidate who supports gun control or has been married three times like Rudy Giuliani, a new Time magazine poll shows.......30 percent couldn't back a candidate who favors gun control, while another 35 percent have trouble with someone with three marriages. That includes 48 percent of "born-again" white Christians. But the survey also shows 56 percent don't know Giuliani's marital history, 68 percent don't know his stand on gun control (he's been saying it's a state matter), and nearly 80 percent don't accurately know where he is on abortion rights (he favors it)....Giuliani is partly an unknown quantity nationally"

Now the truth is he hasn't just been saying gun control is as state matter. He called for a complete "assault weapons" ban stronger than the one clinton signed. He wants national handgun registration and licensing (meaning it would be nigh impossible for law abiding citizens to get a handgun) and filed a sarah brady type junk lawsuit against gun makers and dealers. The vast majority of the country doesn't know that yet. And the NRA crowd (either by membership or sympathy to the cause) is a big part of the GOP base and primary voters.

I'll say it again - rudy's biggest enemy is his real record. That's why his supporters try to downplay it and rudy tries to completely avoid it or do political speak to explain it away.