Posted on 12/22/2010 7:09:21 AM PST by StatenIsland
As a 2008 primary front-runner, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani tanked. But as a 2012 dark horse, he could do surprisingly well.
It’s not because Giuliani has shifted; it’s because the Republican Party has. The 2010 election was less about social conservatism than it was fiscal conservatism, and that aligns with Giuliani’s socially moderate and fiscally conservative ideology.
There is another promising wind of change blowing Giuliani’s way, one that’s less ideological. This isn’t the era of kinder, gentler politicians. This is the age of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — three politicians whose appeal lives, partly, in their aggressive rhetoric.
But, according to Giuliani, he started the political fad. When explaining Christie’s appeal to the New York Post, Giuliani said: “What’s making him popular is that he’s not afraid to be called a bully. I used to be proud to be called a bully, and Christie would call me and tell me, ‘I’m going to do it just the way you did.' "
Thus, both the national ideology and aesthetics of these political times are more favorable to Giuliani than, perhaps, at any time in his political career.
So what’s he been up to?
Leg work:
While Giuliani maintained his visibility at a national level this year through frequent appearances on cable political shows, he also showed the GOP that he was willing to do the less glamorous work of crossing the country on behalf of Republican candidates.
In the run-up to the midterm elections, Giuliani made high-profile visits on behalf of Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey, Illinois gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady, Illinois senatorial candidate Mark Kirk, West Virginia senatorial candidate John Raese and many more, garnering significant media attention along the way.
Skeptics often claim that Giuliani’s political activity is simply good business, since it keeps him relevant. For example, Auburn University shelled out $85,000 earlier this year for a Giuliani speech on leadership — an amount that might be less if he weren’t flirting with a bid. But that obscures the fact that his success, financially, is a good sign of his continuing appeal, politically.
Rhetoric:
The question for any presidential aspirant is whether he or she is building a broad case for the presidency. At the very least, Giuliani has built a broad one against the current president, slamming Barack Obama on everything from foreign policy to being, well, too New York.
Earlier this year, he questioned the president’s philosophical approach to foreign policy, not to mention his actual record, which he’s frequently criticized on missile defense, terrorism and Middle East relationships.
“President Obama thinks we can all hold hands, sing songs and have peace symbols. North Korea and Iran are not singing along with the president.”
And while Gingrich literally wrote a book, christening the Obama administration a “secular-socialist machine,” Giuliani has been similarly critical of the president’s economic policy, telling conservative bloggers that Obama is trying to turn the United States into a “European social democracy.”
Then there’s the ironic and primary-friendly charge that Obama has too much of the mayor’s hometown blood in him.
“The president may be suffering … from the inability to see the rest of America from having a warped view in New York,” Giuliani told ABC’s “The View” last month.
Fire in the belly:
Giuliani has refused several times this year to close the door on a bid. Most recently, he told The Wall Street Journal that it’s been difficult to give up the dream.
“It’s always in your mind when you’ve done something like this,” he said.
And it’s possible that his poor showing in 2008 hasn’t done much to diminish his confidence in another bid. Earlier this year, Giuliani told The Washington Post that his failure could have been as simple as bad timing.
“You know, I was conflicted about running when I did ... I don’t think any Republican could have won in 2008,” he said.
That being said, if he did do it again, it’s not likely he’d take any chances and stake the race on Florida, as he did in 2008.
“If you’re going to run for president and get nominated, you better win Iowa [or] New Hampshire. By then, it’s probably over. If it isn’t over by then, it’s over by South Carolina,” he told the Post.
What lies ahead:
In the end, it’s perhaps smartest to appeal to a former New York state representative, Guy Molinari, who once told reporters of Giuliani: “Rudy is Rudy. Rudy is either going to run or not based on how he feels. He’s not a guy who looks at statistics and worries about the fact that ... maybe he could win, maybe he can’t win.”
And that makes him a wildcard, a dark horse — and a worthy figure to watch in 2012.
Not only no! But HELL NO!
No problem with West, as of now. I donated to West’s campaign and I really believe in him, at the moment.
But I need to see how he will vote in 2011... you know, fruits of my small donation.
We need to learn from experience. Some people here had given an early messianic hurray for Scott Brown ... but found seriously “lacking” later. [I think that also applies to Christie. Now, I really have a problem with his big mouth, somewhat gaffeistic, he he heh!]
Remotely possible, sure.
Another terrorist attack would put Rudy back on the electoral map.
Otherwise, he hasn't got a chance.
Rudy, a liberal statist?? HAHAHA!! Put down the Levin book and get a line of your own.
Rudy would be a much better president than Obama. Period.
Dark horse? Maybe a horse’s ass.
All we need to know about Rudy.
Yep. Kirk got Rudy, McCain, AND Romney to all make a personal visit in Illinois to promote his slimy campaign. It’s a Rudy McRomney Trifecta! I bet Ahnuld wishes he coulda been there. RINOs of a feather flock together.
heh-—good one.
" Ai gotda vunny veeling dah Reepublukhin Potty tinks RINOS are
pure crapola. Chonny, Rooty undt ai ghonna ghet jops ass Val-Mart greetahs,
Home Depot phaint mixahs, McD's ketchop pumpahs, undt vaitahs at Ved Lopstah."
Who knows, however, Rudy is a pro-abort, anti-gun, pro-amnesty politician...
He’s a dark what’s under the horses tail!
Doesn't say much. Hell, even Hitlery would probably be a better president than 0. Does that mean I should vote for her in 2012?
DING! DING! DING! DING!
Right the first time!!
Day in, day out, flaming pro-abort pro-sodomy Giuliani will get the same 3% outside of the NE and Florida as he did in 2008.
I'm sure you're right. This is just another ANYBODY BUT SARAH!! piece by the despairing East Coast media cabal.
But Michael Medved makes Hannity look like the love child of Gordon Liddy and Jeane Kirkpatrick.
I'd sign that.
Also bumping your "NO!" on Rudy for President. He's just too far left on such a broad range of issues -- 2007-8 primary campaign should have taught him something, but here he is panting after the nomination again. Another count against him -- incipient Harold Stassen Syndrome.
LOL!
BTTT
Last time there was this kind of drivel here, the purge that followed sent some of the most prolific and hardcore anti-liberals to the banned for life list.
If in 2012 Rudy happens to be the nominee, I am sure you will vote for him.
If you do not you will be a moron.
But at least you’ll be a moron who stood firm on his principles!
It’s the liberals pushing this has been on us. I wish he would just go away already..
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