Speech vaults Rudy to front of '08 field

New York Daily News ^ | 9/06/04 | LISA L. COLANGELO

[kattracks]

Forget about President Bush - former Mayor Rudy Giuliani may be getting the biggest bounce from the Republican National Convention.

A new Newsweek poll showed 50% of registered voters want Giuliani to run for President in 2008. Those numbers are even higher - 65% - among Republican voters.

That places Giuliani ahead of Arizona Sen. John McCain's 48%, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 22% - and light-years ahead of Gov. Pataki's 15%.

Pataki, who introduced Bush on Thursday and also has been mentioned as a possible presidential contender in 2008, actually saw his numbers drop to 13% among Republican voters.

Giuliani declined yesterday to talk about any political plans during several interviews, saying he was concentrating on getting Bush reelected.

"The race for the presidency four years from now is so far away, I'm not thinking about it; I'm not running against anybody," Giuliani said during an interview on "Fox News Sunday." "Right now, there's only one race ...

"And, you know, Arnold Schwarzenegger's doing a great job as governor of California, and John McCain is one of my heroes. So I don't want to be in any kind of contest with them," Giuliani said.

Giuliani's speech the first night of the convention drew raves from delegates from around the country. McCain and Schwarzenegger - Austrian-born and barred by the Constitution from being President - also made high-profile speeches during last week's GOP fest at Madison Square Garden.

Asked if Giuliani's speech made them more likely to vote for Bush, 24% of voters polled said yes, while 33% said it did not make a difference. Some 8% said it made them less likely to reelect the President. The rest either had no opinion or did not see the speech. The poll of 1,008 registered voters was conducted Thursday and Friday.

Originally published on September 6, 2004

[DoughtyOne]

I get a real kick out of the media trying to decide who the Republicans should run in 08. Major barf alert. Let's get through 2004 election season, rest up for a couple of years and then confront this issue. Course perhaps what they are trying to say is this election is over. On that count, I agree.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

One thing's for sure: There will be no shortage of attractive candidates for our side in '08. It'll be tough to choose. I'll feel like a kid in a candy store.

[garylmoore]

May as well vote for Hillary, she's pro-choice too.

[Green Knight]

This is stupid, really. He can guess four years out who'll be the #1 contender in the next Republican Primary? I remember in 1996, after Liddy Dole spoke at the convention, how everyone was certain she'd be the candidate come the year 2000. Yet when the time came, she was just one of the lower echelon candidates, not even breaking the Top 3. And NOBODY saw George W. Bush coming.

Rudy looks good, now, but that won't last for four years. Just like it didn't last for Liddy Dole, despite her exceptional performance in the 1996 Primary. If he runs he probably WILL be one of the top contenders, but coming out of the gates I don't think he'll be #1.

[South40]

If Rudy runs against Hildabeast Clinton, the 2008 campaign will be dubbed, "Rudy & The Beast!"

[Green Knight]

He can guess four years out who'll be the #1 contender in the next Republican Primary?

"WHO" can guess, rather.

[Lib-Lickers 2]

JEB

[South40]

I said "If".

[West Coast Conservative]

If Rudy just changed his position on abortion, I think he would have the nomination 100%.

[familyop]

"A new Newsweek poll showed 50% of registered voters want Giuliani to run for President in 2008."

Yes, I'm sure Newsweek would like that. So would Satan.

Giuliani is pro-abortion and against the Marriage Amendment.

Few people know that, yet.

The piece above is a division piece against our Republican effort. Only the northeastern and west coast states could contain many voters who would enjoy the thought of a Giuliani-Clinton monopoly on the 2008 Election.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

The guy is also a gun control advocate. Be careful what you wish for.

[familyop]

"May as well vote for Hillary, she's pro-choice too."

Giuliani has also been an open supporter of homosexual activism.

I asked myself, "What would people who want Giuliani to be our President be wanting?"

The truth of the matter, as we've seen by the outcomes of recent votes on marriage amendments in the various states, is that Giuliani would ensure a Republican loss in 2008 if he ran for the Office of President. And if Hillary ran against him,...

So we ask ourselves again, "What would people who want Giuliani to be our President be wanting?"

[Sloth]

Ooooh, a baby killer on the GOP ticket. I'm so excited.

[garylmoore]

Giuliani has also been an open supporter of homosexual activism

Abortion and homosexual activity are two major issues and he goes againt the grain on both. These two issues are what seperate. Oil just don't mix with water.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

In the north east, no one can win unless they are socialist light. Rudy is for gun control, for murder of unborn children and for homosexual demands.
Rudy on the Rrepublican ticket for President would be the best thing that could happen for demoncraps.

[Trteamer]

The guy is also a gun control advocate.

Thanks for bringing that up. Remember, four armed pilots and 9/11 might not have happened.

[ChuckK]

That places Giuliani ahead of Arizona Sen. John McCain's 48%, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 22% - and light-years ahead of Gov. Pataki's 15%.

If these are our only choices then the Constitution Party candidate will get 33% of the vote.

[Charles Henrickson]

No way I vote for a pro-abort, pro-homo candidate.

I'm not even sure I will be able to vote for George "No Spending Bill Left Behind" Bush this November.

[Dems_R_Losers]

Giuliani should be put permanently in charge of Homeland Security or National Intelligence Director. He is too divisive with his liberal stands on social issues to run for President, but the Republican Party needs him to stay at the forefront in some manner. We must also laud him for his strong support of President Bush and his clear-eyed view of terrorism. For my money, the best speech passage of the entire year was Rudy's recitation of 30 years of European capitulation and appeasement of terrorism. Right there, he demolished any claim France and Germany have on our foreign policy, and demolished John Kerry and the DNC for their slavish allegiance to the Eurotrash appeasers.