Posted on 09/09/2007 10:52:37 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
(AP) DES PLAINES, Ill. -- Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani picked up a key endorsement Thursday in Illinois, getting the backing of former GOP Gov. Jim Thompson, a former federal prosecutor who ruled the state for 14 years.
Giuliani will appeal to Illinois voters because of his "commonsense solutions for problems and issues facing Americans in this dangerous decade," Thompson said.
Illinois has a track record of electing moderate Republicans like Thompson to statewide offices, and Giuliani is known for his moderate-to-liberal views on some issues.
But both Thompson and Giuliani were quick to avoid labels in the presidential contest that has gotten more crowded with conservative Fred Thompson officially joining the field.
"I think if the labels liberal, moderate, conservative ever had any meaning they don't have much meaning anymore. The average person, the average voter in Illinois, the average voter around the United States isn't as fascinated with labels as us political junkies or you the press are. They want to know where you stand on particular issues and how you're going to help them live better lives," said Jim Thompson, who joined Giuliani at a campaign stop in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines.
Giuliani brushed off bragging by Fred Thompson about his conservative credentials, a ploy to separate himself from rivals.
"Oh, let the Republican Party decide that," the former mayor of New York said.
Giuliani said the way for the party to decide the best candidate is to have everyone lay out their positions and let voters make the choice.
"These are all positions people are gonna have to weigh," said Giuliani, listing his commitment to lowering taxes and spending and building a strong national defense.
Former governor Thompson predicted Fred Thompson's entry into the race would not hurt Giuliani's base of support but would bleed voters away from other candidates in the field who have positioned themselves more to the right.
"He's going to split that vote," Thompson said.
Giuliani's visit was his first to Illinois since his campaign opened a headquarters last month in the GOP-heavy western suburbs. He visited a sewer company that donated sand and generators during recent flooding.
A $1,000-per-person fundraiser was scheduled for later Thursday night and a couple hundred people were expected to attend, said businessman Ron Gidwitz, Giuliani's finance chairman in Illinois.
Giuliani said Illinois was a critical state for his campaign because of its early primary on Feb. 5.
"So to have the governor's support is just tremendous encouragement," he said.
Thompson, who left office in 1991, is now a high-profile Chicago attorney. His firm is leading the fight to keep former Republican Gov. George Ryan out of prison after an appeals court upheld his conviction on racketeering and fraud charges. Thompson's firm also represents sitting Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose administration and hiring practices are under federal investigation.
But Thompson has faced some tough questions himself. He served on the board of Hollinger International Inc. where media baron Conrad Black was recently convicted of swindling shareholders out of millions of dollars. Thompson says he never realized what was going on.
Thompson said Giuliani is the Republican who can put Illinois in play in a general election against a Democrat nominee that he predicted would be New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, a chief rival of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination.
The last time Illinois swung Republican in a presidential race was almost 20 years ago when President Bush's father beat Democrat Michael Dukakis.
"This is a tough state for a Republican these days," Thompson said.
BTTT
“This is a tough state for a Republican these days,” Thompson said.
—
especially for corrupt ones.
I figured the Illinois RINOs would be endorsing HUSSEIN Obama. I guess Edgar's endorsement is next.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
The CBS view of government is most revealing.
Well, Rudy just locked up the con vote.
So, they could potentially represent Giuliani or his corrupt pals as well.
They just don’t write scripts like this any more.. well, uhh, yaknow
I’m tired of the establishment politiciaqns. They all scratch each others’ backs.
Correction, AP
Since you support big liberal government, Roe v Wade and abortion on demand, gay rights, illegal immigration and amnesty, gun control and an assault weapons ban and liberal global warming bunkum, I'd say that excludes you from consideration as representing conservatives.
>>>>>"These are all positions people are gonna have to weigh," said Giuliani, listing his commitment to lowering taxes and spending and building a strong national defense.
Wait now. Rooty has no special talent to lead the US military. He got a draft defernment during Vietnam and went to work as a law clerk for some liberal justice. As Mayor spending under Rooty increased 36%, with most of those increases coming in his second term. Rooty even took credit for eight tax cuts when he had nothing to do with them. Sounds like more opportunism, not conservatism.
“”But both Thompson and Giuliani were quick to avoid labels in the presidential contest that has gotten more crowded with conservative Fred Thompson officially joining the field.””
No one even bothered to mention the other candidates.
“Former governor Thompson predicted Fred Thompson’s entry into the race would not hurt Giuliani’s base of support but would bleed voters away from other candidates in the field who have positioned themselves more to the right.”
This is a fear I have... There are several fine candidates running who have just been unable to muster much support. It seems that Thompson’s entry hasn’t effected Giuliani’s numbers much at all (he’s been at about 25% for months now) but will divide the conservative vote up even more.
Is this a recipe for guaranteeing a Giuliani nomination? Or can we expect some of these single digit candidates (mine included) to start endorsing Thompson?
As the primaries approach, I’m concerned that the anti-Giuliani vote split so many different ways may in fact ensure a Giuliani win. That scares me.
Good to see that it's a key endorsement for Rootie.
It shows his true colors as a politician.
Rudy gets the bit-government thievery vote.
Fear driven political support.
That's encouraging...
Why is stating conservative principals “bragging”?
In the interest of honest headlines...
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