Posted on 11/19/2007 11:01:37 AM PST by logician2u
While the presidential candidates comb Iowa and New Hampshire for votes, they are also combing the country for dollars.
Rudolph Giuliani has set his sights on Texas, and he is having a lot of success.
Giuliani might have seemed the least plausible choice of big Republican donors in Texas. The former New York City mayor supports abortion rights, gay unions and gun control. And his political base is 1,400 miles away in a city that is practically synonymous with liberal Democrats.
Yet Giuliani has raised more money in Texas than anyone in either party. He has taken nearly $6 million out of the state as of Sept. 30. That is compared to just over $2 million for the next closest Republican — Mitt Romney.
The strategy is both public and private. There have been public endorsements, including one last month from Texas Gov. Rick Perry. And Giuliani is tapping Texas money through other sources, including Roy Bailey, a low-profile insurance millionaire in Dallas.
Bailey volunteered to raise money for Giuliani way back in 2000, when Giuliani was going to run for the U.S. Senate. They reportedly bonded over a common desire to keep Hillary Clinton from winning the seat.
Giuliani did not run, and Clinton won the New York Senate seat. But Giuliani did make a friend, and when Giuliani left his job as mayor of New York City, Bailey helped create and bankroll the consulting firm Giuliani Partners.
Bailey also began connecting Giuliani with other Texas Republicans, including Dallas Congressman Pete Sessions, oilman T. Boone Pickens and billionaire Tom Hicks.
And he connected Giuliani with Pat Oxford, the managing partner of the Houston law firm Bracewell & Patterson. After some negotiations, the firm opened an office in New York City and changed the firm's name from Bracewell & Patterson to Bracewell & Giuliani.
It is a mostly Republican firm with offices in Texas, Washington and Kazakhstan.
"Anytime you get a big establishment law firm in a large city — Houston is the fourth-biggest city in the country — they can call their client list and their friends and the lawyers in the firm itself, and they can raise a lot of money with an operation like that. I think it's very significant," said Ross Ramsey, editor of Texas Weekly, an online newsletter about the state's politics.
Giuliani's contacts at Bracewell have given his campaign $103,000 dollars.
George Edwards, a political scientist at Texas A&M University, says Giuliani's ties to the firm count even more in this wide-open Republican contest.
"In effect, the firm is saying he's OK. And in a field such as we have today, in which there's no candidate for whom there's great enthusiasm, these cues are particularly effective," Edwards says.
His Bracewell contract also has been a lucrative job for Giuliani while he runs for president. The contract guarantees him at least a $1 million annual income.
The campaign says he currently has no day-to-day involvement with Giuliani Partners or Bracewell.
But the Texas connection adds a lot to the Giuliani campaign.
Bailey is now the campaign's national finance chairman. Oxford is the national campaign chairman. The campaign made neither of them available to be interviewed for this story.
Raising a lot of cash does not give Giuliani a lock on the Texas primary.
"We're not going to hold his fundraising success against him, but I can tell you, if he were on the ballot down here and there was still a race going on, he's going to have to come up with a lot more than money to prevail in the state of Texas," said Lee Woods, a longtime consultant for conservative Republicans.
That vote is not until March, and right now, Giuliani is spending his Texas money all over the country in an effort to capture the nomination much earlier.
Gov. Perry was never my favorite, so his endorsement only sank him another foot or so, but T. Boone Pickens? He was one of the good guys. Senility, maybe?
I'd appreciate comments from you Texans who can explain Rudy's apparent popularity with some establishment Republicans in the Lone Star State.
All Perry’s fault...
How much was from $50-$100 small doners that plan to vote for that liberal puke?
If true, which I do call BS, the majority of donors are more than likely from the Austin area and are just confused since Rudy is really a Democrat and they concede Hillary or him it is all the same.
My thoughts exactly.
“Rudolph Giuliani has set his sights on Texas, and he is having a lot of success.”
Most unfortunate. Inevitable with his connections in Texas, but unfortunate.
I cannot envision what good there could possibly be to have Giuliani as our President. Any takers?
Rudy’s the candidate of the country club establishment. I was disappointed in Sessions - he used to be conservative, but the rest of them don’t surprise me.
Bush may be keeping quiet about who he supports, but I’m guessing that since Karl Rove paid a visit early last year to see Rudy and now you have these Texas billionaires on board that the signs are out that Rudy is quietly being given the nod by the insiders group.
Exactly, Rudy is a country club candidate, he is NOT a Conservative, he is a Republican only.
It is disappointing that a guy like Fred Thompson isn’t mopping up donations in TX.
Rudy is in McAllen Texas tonight at a fundraiser. Some of the Texas money people have been with him from early on. I’ve not seen a state poll since back in Mar but at that time Rudy was up in the 30% range.
I think the key to this cycle is going to come down to who can surface to take on both Romney/Giuliani. Romney is playing the early states to win and thus build momentum going into SC and Super Tuesday. Giuliani is looking to Super Tuesday with it’s big states and Fl a few days before to kick off his march to the nomination.
Who can change the mix and throw a monkey wrench in their plans? Long range hopefully it is Thompson. But I think we need a little help from the man from Hope up in Iowa to derail Romney a bit and slow his early state wins. If that happens then that may open the door for Thompson to come in and begin his assault. Strange campaign this cycle.
44 days until Iowa.........
There have been a number of endorsements from individuals and organizations for certain candidates that have caught me off guard. I am not really sure how much meaning an endorsement really has anymore.
I’m with you, I would like to have some feedback on various endorsements. Personally, polls or endorsements have little effect on my vote or views on the issues. I try to choose who will be best for America, period. If Rudy can win Texas, it’s over and he is the nominee. I just don’t see that happening in Texas as they are big on the 2nd Amendment and border security.
I think these endorsements are just tempests in teapots and will amount to no more than marginalizing and discrediting those who gave them.
“...the signs are out that Rudy is quietly being given the nod by the insiders group.”
That is something I’ve railed against seemingly forever, “The Insiders Group.”
We need flush the Congressional Bowl in D.C., and take back our Government.
Texas ain’t what it used to be. Too many former Yankees polluting the place now.
It is disappointing that a guy like Fred Thompson isn’t mopping up donations in TX.
True but Rudy is actually in Texas collecting money...Fred is not. That does make a difference.
If Rudy can win Texas, it’s over and he is the nominee.
There are something like 60-65% of the total votes cast in the Republican primaries prior to Texas. With a split in the votes possible among the top tier then Texas may still be in play. Strange cycle this time around.
Texas ain’t what it used to be. Too many former Yankees polluting the place now.
That excuse is getting old. The way that Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Texas is turning cannot be blamed on the Northern Saints. The way you talk we would not have any people left in the North. Take personal resposibility for your state and stop passing the buck.
What? I can’t pass the buck any more? That’s a fine old American tradition! ;-)
How about this one then - too many illegal aliens.
Anything, but just don’t tell me that Texans have gone mushy liberal.
Better. lol. Austin I will admit has become very liberal. It is such a beautiful city though. I thought you guys down there go hunting. I think you should be hunting these lowlife libs. What’s the going rate for a lib these days anyway?
Wow, abortion and homosexuality sell in Texas. Who’d have thought? I still remember the 1976 Texas delegation to the Republican Convention bucking the trend and pledged 100% for Governor Reagan. My how times have changed when a draft dodging adulterer can pick up that kind of support in the Lone Star State.
“What’s the going rate for a lib these days anyway?”
1000 points
2500 points if they’re a breeder.
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