CNN:
Giuliani reiterates his support for public funding of abortions.VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZe1j4csMq8&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fblog%2Ethevanguard%2Eorg%2Fcategory%2Fchristianity%2F
Posted on 05/07/2007 11:30:40 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
Four days after the first Republican presidential debate and amid media buzz of Rudy Giuliani’s falling poll numbers, Giuliani’s campaign manager and communications director held a conference call for political bloggers on the state of the GOP presidential race. They took the opportunity to respond to concerns raised in traditional and new media about Giuliani’s shrinking lead in the polls, his pro-choice stance, his debate performance and his view of social conservatives. They also tried to drive home a simple message: voters should look at Giuliani’s overall record and his electability in the general election.
Throughout the call the Giuliani team stressed their candidate’s record as Mayor and his conservative record on taxes, spending, crime and even reducing abortions. They argue that voters are fully aware of his liberal social views but may not be aware of his successes in cleaning up New York.
In response to my question as to whether the stampede by states to early primary dates poses any concern, DuHaime noted that it did place a premium on fundraising and “resource allocation.” However, in response to a later question he also indicated that the campaign is pleased with the appearance of Florida, New Jersey, New York and California -- states where the Mayor is running strongly ahead -- to the list of early primary states.
As for the polls, campaign manager Michael DuHaime professed no concern about the narrowing of certain national polls and said that the race has “settled into a place we expected.” He indicated the campaign was pleased with Giuliani’s average 10 percentage point lead in national polls and his “close” standing in early primary states.
After the blogger call a CNN/Opinion Research poll was announced showing Giuliani leading 25-23% over Sen. McCain. The campaign responded to my inquiry as to whether this changed their view of the polls. They answered that this particular poll showed virtually no change from last month which had Giuliani ahead 27-24%. (Fred Thompson was down a statistically insignificant 3% and Gov. Romney showed no change from the last poll.) They also point to polling showing Giuliani is viewed as the best leader of any candidate, Democrat or Republican.
Giuliani’s team was asked on the blogger call about Giuliani’s pro-choice views and his response in the debate last week that it would be “okay” if Roe v. Wade was reversed. DuHaime and Communications Director Katie Levinson laid out their approach: 1) Giuliani is a “straight shooter” and “his positions are his positions” -- perhaps a veiled shot at Romney, who has been dealing with the “flip flop” label; 2) Giuliani offers some common ground with pro-life voters on parental notification and partial birth abortion but remains pro-choice; and 3) Giuliani is banking that the primary will be decided by people evaluating a candidate as “a whole” and recognizes that there are some “single issue voters who won’t vote for him” on this issue.
DuHaime answered a question on Giuliani’s debate performance with a mild endorsement that a “did very well” and seemed to acknowledge the difficulty in getting adequate time for his candidate to shine when 10 candidates clutter the stage.
Questioned about Giuliani’s view of social conservatives and whether the GOP was a “pro-life” party, DuHaime invoked both Ronald Reagan (“someone who agrees with me 80% of the time is not my enemy”) and Sen. Sam Brownback who recently remarked that Giuliani’s pro-choice views were not a disqualifying factor.
Rather than sing the praises of social conservatives, DuHaime turned the question into a platform to argue the “Big Tent” view of the GOP. He cautioned that Republicans should not exclude any group from the party since they are outnumbered nationally by Democrats. DuHaime also used the opportunity to make a pitch, not heard as clearly or strenuously before, that Giuliani is the most electable of the Republican candidates. He listed numerous states including Connecticut, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin which he claimed Giuliani would win in November 2008 and others such as New York where his candidacy would force Democrats to spend money, depleting their resources elsewhere.
Finally when asked about the prospect of Fred Thompson’s campaign, DuHaime gamely welcomed him to the race, suggesting he would make it into the “first tier” of candidates and “take [votes] from all candidates.”
So team Giuliani gives every indication they are settling in for the long fight and gearing up for more debates, more fundraising and one more contender. Indeed, we still have eight months before the first caucus and primary votes are cast, a lifetime in politics.
That goes without saying, but the possibility remains that we could end up with a ticket we didn't prefer.
That only reinforces the point I’ve been making for some time. The Republican party is replacing it’s core conservative principles with socialism. Conservatives need to distinguish themselves now from the socialists by forming their own conservative party.
By my lights, Mayor Giuliani is the sorriest excuse for a Republican candidate that I can remember. I don't understand why he doesn't run as a Democrat; on the whole, it appears to me that his stands accord more with the Democrats than with the Republicans.
Poll numbers don't just fall by themselves. They have a lot to do with what comes out of the candidate's mouth. Past and present.
Maybe, but the odds of creating a new party and having it win are pretty slim. At least in the near term. I'm betting my efforts on just trying to get the best candidates we can to go up against the Dems.
CNN:
Giuliani reiterates his support for public funding of abortions.VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZe1j4csMq8&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fblog%2Ethevanguard%2Eorg%2Fcategory%2Fchristianity%2F
“Rudy Giuliani’s falling poll numbers”
Is it too late for the Rudymeister to change parties? He keeps bragging about cross-party support. Test the waters in your familiar environment, Rudy.
I still have not figured out how he can claim a woman has a “right” to an abortion but if someone wants to own a gun that’s a privilege and they need to pass a test and get licensed.
If Rudy is going to overlook a right that is explicitly written into the Bill of Rights and the other was thrust upon the country by Judaical decree, what other rights will he overlook and what new "rights" will he find?
Inquiring minds want to know.......now.
The Rudy camp sure does like using Reagan's quotes. Amazing since Rudy isn't even close to being a Ronald Reagan in thought or deed.
In the case of the 80% statement, Rudy isn't even 20% conservative, unless they are saying we should elect someone who is 80% liberal. On second thought, given the delusions these liberals live under, they probably do think that.
We won the war in Iraq. The regime is changed.
It’s time the Iraqis fight and sacrifice for the gift of freedom American lives were spent to secure on their behalf. It’s time the Iraqis build their own nation: if its governing regime again becomes hostile toward us, we can again change it with considerably less war investment than is expended in continued patrolling/policing.
Unless Iraqis are willing to secure for themselves and their posterity the blessings of freedom and independence, no amount of bloodshed by others will do it for them. They will continue to fall back into tyranny.
****************
Exactly right.
” I suppose I should also note that I don’t believe what either one says they’ll do”
Not a word......LMBO!
Proud graduates of our public schools.
“Not a word......LMBO!”
lol. It’s just sort of a given. I hate that I even have to note such a thing (shaking head). Good afternoon!
Now, he seems to be backpedaling off that. But, earlier he seemed to support public funding of abortions and now says he favors the Hyde Amendment.
Gotta have a scoreboard to keep track.
Good afternoon, Jedward.
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