Good Rudy Analysis [Rich Lowry]
From the Hotline:
We all know what happened the last time Giuliani faced bad press about his family in the midst of a heated campaign. He quit. What he learned in '00 SEN will determine how he responds to new reports about strained relations with his kids. And that response could say lots about the GOP frontrunner's WH'08 prospects.
— In other words, it's not the report, it's the response. Strong candidates can overcome perceptions of family discord (even children's refusal to campaign) if they frame it as a common personal struggle, and don't dismiss it as irrelevant. As he made clear in '00, Giuliani thinks his family is quite relevant.
— Then again, is this just the beginning of hard times for Giuliani? Rumors have circulated for weeks that rival camps are planning anti-Rudy oppo-drops on a range of topics. Following a month in which he made inroads to conservatives, is more bad press just around the corner? And if you're McCain or Romney, how do you respond? Pile on? Or back away?
— Camp Rudy has never had the thickest skin. If last weekend was any indication, they might want to grow one.
Quitters are losers.
Rudeo should exit the political stage, before the REAL "Daddy Dearest" stories get out.
All the political signposts bode bad for Rudeo. Rudy's army of professional handlers put a lot of resources into SC, b/c it would be a crucial public indication of Julie-Annie's conservative standing (as Rudy tries vainly to clean-up the effluent of his ultra-liberal activities).
Rudy's losing SC effort was even more significant since it came in tandem with the RINO's appearance at CPAC.
The SC outcome is an extremely bad omen since RINO Rudy was expected to soar to victory after his professional handlers manipulated the media to pump the RINO's CPAC appearance.
In another bad omen for Rudy----Romney won the CPAC straw poll.
Straw polls are ear-to-ground soundings of voters' reactions to candidates who've thrown their hats in the ring.
When RINO Rudy is forced out of the race, it'll be good for the United States of America to have a contest among conservative candidates.
Besides, Rudeo is hardly the image we want to project abroad. Imagine a bunch of terrorists looking at the lisping liberal twit, smiling seductively in his Marilyn Monroe wig and pink gown.