RUDY TURNED MOST VOTERS TOWARD PREZ

New York Post ^ | 9/06/04 | STEPHANIE GASKELL

[kattracks]

September 6, 2004 -- Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani's speech at the Republican National Convention swayed more voters to re-elect President Bush than the speeches given by Sen. John McCain and Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a new poll shows. Giuliani's 40-minute speech Monday night convinced 24 percent of those polled to vote for the GOP ticket, according to a recent Newsweek poll.

That's compared to 20 percent who said they were more likely to vote for Bush after hearing Schwarzenegger's speech Tuesday night. Just 20 percent said McCain's speech persuaded them to vote Republican in the Nov. 2 election.

Giuliani is said to be considering a presidential run in 2008, but some say his pro-choice, pro-gay rights record wouldn't make a good fit for a GOP ticket.

[GVnana]

He understands the war on terrorism.

Yes. And he understands evil -- the necessity to call it by it's name -- and criminality, and why the two are different. Something the Clinton's and their ilk could never get their wits around because they are blinded by relativism.

[Iron Eagle]

I agree on the Jeb Bush analysis. Hell, even I will be all bushed out by '08.

I think the '08 field will include:

Romney
Giuliani
Ridge
Pataki
McCain
Bush (Jeb)
Voinivich

Just to name a few. Obviously, many factors depend upon who wins here. I also think that there will be GREAT pressure to add a VP in the second half of Bush's second term. In the end, if Jeb Bush is serious about running, George will keep Cheney until the end to leave the field open. (The Republican party however, will want a front-runner.) No serious consultant believes Cheney will run in '08.

By '08, however, we may finally see in intra-party challenge to the pro-life plank. Many of our possible candidates are pro-abortion, in some form or another.

I have been told that McCain intends to run in '08, even though he will be 72. While he has positions that concern me, and he is reviled by some on these pages, he is pro-life -- and he reputation as being willing to buck the party and work with dems will make him even more of a media darling. I suspect he may envision himself as the next Reagan. (I wonder if the party elders and faithful will embrace him, or move to stop him)

Oh well -- let's see if we can keep this one in the GOP column first! Hell -- if Kerry wins, McCain's bid might be strengthened.

[Uncle Hal]

I wonder what the percentage of voters moved AWAY from Kerry after Teresa's speech at the DNC.

[nathanbedford]

Frist makes the most sense to a conservative like me. He is sound on all the issues, has a stellar bio, no scandals, smarter than any four democrats and cannot be labeled extreme.

He is pretty and will appeal to the soccer moms who will think he is Dr. Kildare.

The guy will tough to beat and a good match against Bitch Clinton.

[SamAdams76]

Of course Bush can pick a new VP if Cheney ever steps down. But I hope it isn't Rudy. We need Rudy to exorcise the Hillary demon in 2006. The senatorial match-up that should have been in 2000. Rudy will destroy Hillary and with it, any chance Hillary had to be the Dem nominee in 2008 (which isn't much to begin with).

[SunkenCiv]

I'm too lazy to check if someone answered... the Prez proposes, the Congress disposes (as the old saying goes). At the local Gerald R. Ford Museum there's a small exhibit in the area dealing with Ford's ascent to the presidency -- the reprehensible Bella Abzug wanted to reject Ford and appoint a liberal Democrat to the VP, figuring that Nixon would soon be gone one way or the other. "Don't let those bastards keep this" (meaning the P/VP) were her words to some mover and shaker.

George W. Bush will be reelected by a margin of at least ten per cent

[finnman69]

Amazing considering the MSM never covered this speech live.

[Uncle Hal]

I am afraid if a moderate Republican gets the GOP nomination in 08, like Giuliani, there will be a strong possibility of a back lash by the social conservatives in the party. This could take the form of a third party or them simply staying home on election day. This a very tight rope that a moderate candidate would have to walk. He would have to some how pacify the conservative wing of the party. I do not know if that is possible. Perhaps like the Democrats this year accepting Kerry, the Democratic hatred of Bush meant they would accept any candidate no matter how tainted. As a result in 08, if Hillary runs, the GOP may accept any candidate so long as it assures Hillary does not get elected.

[GretchenM]

I know of one flaming lib who watched Arnold and liked what she heard. I thought, after hearing her account, that of all the speeches she might have watched that would be of benefit, Arnold's was best suited to influence her.

But people are different and different things speak to people, depending on their biases. I can see how Giuliani's speech would influence a lot of people, but it's difficult for me to grasp how someone who wasn't influenced to vote GOP after 9/11 and George W. Bush's performance since then would be influenced by Rudy's speech to do so.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for the comments. It's hard for us to imagine some people don't pay attention to the issues in-between elections, but some don't. There are differing levels of awareness, and differing exposures to spheres of influence. The variety of presentations at the convention were well suited to hit the most people on a different level. It appears they have done so. I'm glad to hear your friend was moved by Schwarzenegger. I think people underestimate his broad appeal to the voters.

[BunnySlippers]

I'm with you about Hillary. But (if I remember correctly) at the party immediately following his speech last week, he indicated he was going to run for president in 2008.

[votelife]

I think Franks is my first choice for '08...Maybe Franks/Jeb.