Posted on 11/16/2007 3:00:23 PM PST by Tlaloc
WASHINGTON — omehow, some folks in the land of y'all have cottoned to a GOP presidential candidate from the land of youse guys.
And ex-New York mayor Rudy Giuliani will make another foray into the symbolic heart of southern culture Sunday as he soaks in the ambiance of the Ford 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Finale in Homestead, Fla.
For Giuliani, like an anthropologist currying favor in another culture, it's another day of mingling at a tribal ritual.
"No question about it," Barry Wynn, a South Carolina banker and chairman of Giuliani's campaign in that early-primary state. "There are a lot of NASCAR followers in South Carolina. Whether it translates into votes I'm not sure, but it certainly translates into some common interests."
Despite not sharing common interests on social issues such as gun control, abortion and gay rights, a solid share of Southern Republicans have aligned to provide him impressive showings in polls and fundraising across the region.
A Survey USA poll released last week showed Giuliani atop the GOP field in South Carolina at 26 percent, followed by Mitt Romney at 20 percent and ex-Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson at 18 percent.
Other recent polls showed Giuliani leading the GOP field in Virginia, North Carolina and Florida, and running a close second to Thompson in Alabama.
In Georgia, a recent poll gave Thompson a 19-point lead on runner-up Giuliani, but showed that 62 percent of respondents held a favorable opinion of the ex-mayor, compared to 56 percent for Thompson.
Fundraising reports also show southern financial support for the New Yorker. Giuliani is the top GOP fundraiser in six of the 12 southern states, including the big two (Texas and Florida) as well as Alabama, Louisiana and both Carolinas.
And he has supporters among the NASCAR elite. Top drivers Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears each have given him $2,300, the maximum allowed by law. Other donors include NASCAR Chairman Brian France and Rick Hendrick, head of Hendrick Motorsports, a top NASCAR team.
Some of Giuliani's fund-raising prowess in Dixie flows from his deep business ties in the region through his affiliation with the Houston-based Bracewell & Giuliani law firm. Pat Oxford, the firm's managing partner, is in charge of Giuliani's fundraising operation.
The firm's client list includes or has included several major utility companies in the South, including TXU, Florida Power and Light, the Southern Company and Duke Energy.
In Texas, the firm represented a Spanish firm that successfully sought a Texas contract to build a major toll road as part of the state's Trans-Texas Corridor program backed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry, now a Giuliani supporter.
But despite the polls and money, some see Giuliani - with his Brooklyn accept and three marriages - as a candidate whose southern star will fade as his support of abortion rights and civil unions for homosexual couples are highlighted as primaries approach.
David Woodard, a Clemson University political scientist and GOP consultant, said much of what southerners now know about Giuliani centers on Sept. 11.
"He is tough on terror. He talks about it and he's got a record to prove it," Woodard said. "He talks tough on the number one issue people are concerned about."
"I suspect they are going to learn a lot more about him in the next eight weeks," he added.
And what will they learn?
"He fits the South like a priss at a monster truck rally." Woodard said.
Yes, says Wynn, Giuliani's South Carolina chairman, these are some notable differences on social issues. Wynn is among those who differ with the candidate on abortion.
"But I certainly think there are bigger issues," Wynn said. "I also think that social conservatives will be pleasantly surprised that they will have a friend in the White House if Mayor Giuliani is elected president."
South Carolina Republican Walter Cantrell, a web programmer and evangelical Christian, is not convinced.
"I get the feel (Giuliani) is one of those guys that once he's in office he is going to be more liberal than what he is saying in the primaries," Cantrell said.
J.P. Sibley, a youth minister at an evangelical church near Greenville, S.C., is an undecided Republican who praises Giuliani as a "straight talker" who reined in spending while mayor of New York.
But that falls short of a reason to back Giuliani in the primary, said Sibley, who offered this quarter-hearted endorsement when asked if what he'd do next November if Giuliani is the GOP nominee.
"I'd move to France," he said with a laugh, adding he'd probably vote for Giuliani over any Democrat.
Perry is among those campaigning for Giuliani. Rudy and the South is a topic that came up last week as Perry stumped for Giuliani in Iowa.
"I think he will do exceptionally well in the South," Perry said in Cedar Rapids when a Giuliani backer raised the topic. "Southerners really get it about taxes, spending and tort reform. Those are good old bread-and-butter issues in the South."
Exactly, said Emory University political scientist Merle Black, a longtime student of southern politics.
"To the extent that he has supporters (in the South) it's not because of his liberal positions," Black said. "It's because he is seen as conservative on national security issues, taxation and law and order. And he comes across as an optimistic, fighting leader."
And, Black noted, Giuliani, to many southerners, looks like the best New Yorker in the race.
"If you put him up against Hillary Clinton there is no contest in terms of who would be seen as a liberal politician," Black said.
Not just no but hell no!
Florida is safe for him, he wouldn't step foot at Talladega. Wonder who is favorite driver is? I bet it's Jeff Gordon.
He thinks the SEC stands for the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Go DAWGS!!!!!
Thanks for the ping my,
If Rudy thinks he’s gonna win the votes of the NASCAR folks with his gun-grab’n notions he’s out of his mind!
Yup!
Whatta Maroon
Exactly! Mssrs Thompson and Hunter need to hit 2nd ammdt issues HARD.
Both Rudy Giuliani and NASCAR have a long and storied history of left turns.
That was too easy. You guys are slipping.
;-)
Heck, he just might don a Dave Blaney hat and buy some crackelings.
Wonder if he can do phoney southern as well as hillary.
LOL,,,Dawgs lookin’ pretty good...!
LOL, with your handle, it’s apparent you think about things like that beyond the usual :o)
Roooody loves NASCAR? LMAO!
Could be an embarrasing moment for Rudi, having 100,000+ fans booing him. Just ask Bill Clinton.
No but if I here Rudi’s come near me I’m gonna go get a set of shots first fer sure.
LOL. Yes that was low hanging fruit wasn’t it.
;-)
“I need to get me one of them thar Nascar Drivers License”...
He wouldn’t know Sterling Marlin from the Florida Marlins.
I want to hear him say t’ar ..
Wait until the HildeBeast visits next year , maybe they can debate at a race drive twin pace cars..
You forgot Kerry praising “Lambert Field” and his throwing out the first pitch at that baseball game that bounced to the catcher. Yes the democrats are sure “regular guys”.
If you asked Al Gore, he'd say Jeff Goldblum.
Chances are he will get more hugs from Nascar fans than he could get from his own kids.
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