Giuliani in '08 might be an uphill battle against McCain

New York Newsday ^ | December 10 2005 | GLENN THRUSH

[jmc1969]

WASHINGTON -- Rudy Giuliani and John McCain are the top-polling Republican rivals for the White House in 2008, but the two dinner buddies avoid talking about that topic when sharing tortellini and bresaola at Giuliani's favorite Manhattan bistros.

Their latest get-together took place on Nov. 1 at Elio's, an Upper East Side eatery known for its $30 veal chops. They shared a table with McCain confidante Mark Salter, Giuliani's wife Judith and his aide-de-camp Tony Carbonetti. McCain and Giuliani reportedly chatted about the food, sports and Iraq -- everything but 2008.

The same can't be said for the Arizona senator's operatives, who are girding for a clash between the two titans even though Giuliani could be a year away from making a decision. Some even predict the Straight Talk Express will roll over America's Mayor if it comes down to McCain vs. Giuliani.

"I think Rudy would make an attractive secretary of state or secretary of defense in a McCain administration," Marshall Wittmann, a former McCain aide who is still close to the senator.

"In my humble opinion, Rudy wouldn't get out of the gate," said longtime McCain strategist John Dennehy, who helped engineer the Arizona senator's victorious 2000 primary in New Hampshire.

[Lion Den Dan]

A McCain administration; nearly a reason to vote shrillary. God preserve us either way.

[Gabz]

McCain has no use for the 1st Amendment........he's nothing in my book, just for that.

[Susannah]

Here's some of the ratings conservative organizations gave McCain:

Fall 2004 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Conservative Index - The John Birch Society 90 percent in Fall 2004.

2004 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Eagle Forum 100 percent in 2004.

2004 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Family Research Council 67 percent in 2004.

2004 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Christian Coalition 83 percent in 2004.

2004 Senator McCain supported the interests of the American Conservative Union 72 percent in 2004.

2004 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Republican Liberty Caucus 77 percent in 2004.

2004 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Christian Action Network 79 percent during their legislative career up until 2004.

2003-2004 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Concerned Women for America 100 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004 On the votes that the Campaign for Working Families considered to be the most important in 2003-2004, Senator McCain voted their preferred position 84 percent of the time.

(more McCain ratings available at:
http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=S0061103&type=category&category=Conservative

[Seven Minute Maniac]

I would be much more happy with a Lieberman democrat than either one of these (r)inos

[freespirited]

That's because few people, even Republicans, really know about Rudy's stance on important national issue. They only drank the media Kool Aid on Giuliani because of 9/11.

I think there is something about him. . . the charisma thing. Not unlike the Kennedys for lack of a better analogy. The standing that a senator like Ted Kennedy has with voters is far out of proportion to the respect that people have for the positions he takes on the issues. This is not to say that I equate Guiliani with Kennedy. I give Rudy a lot more credit than that.

Of course I'd much prefer George Allen as nominee and Rudy as his VP. But if it comes down to Guiliani or McCain, it's going to be the former for me. I'm not worried that Rudy has a screw loose.

[woofer]

It will be the McCaine Mutiny. The press has coddled him for years -

And , if McCain can fool enough of the voters long enough to capture the nomination, the press will turn on him faster than the tiger on Sigfried and Roy.

But the result will be far more nasty.

[Rome2000]

McCain is a mental case.

If George Allen is the nominee we will be looking at President Hillary Clinton.

Giuliani is the only one that can beat her and he will be the nominee.

He will run with Rice.

[gg188]

I'd like to see a poll on FR:

McCain/Giuliani

OR

Zell Miller/Joe Lieberman

[gg188]

Seems to me the best Dem ticket would be McCain/Dean.

And the best Pub ticket would be Zell/Lieberman.

(I am only being partially sarcastic.)

[AlexW]

I can not imagine ANYONE, at least Republican, that would vote for McCaniac.
Since I am in Europe, I will not even bother to vote, unless there is a good candidate.

[Modok]

I don't vote for liberals like McCain or Clinton.

[napscoordinator]

Senator McCain is not up for reelection until 2010!!! That is a long time from now. He was just reelected in 2004.

[ZULU]

Yeah.

These liberal rags just can't get over it.

These twin jerks will never get the Republican nomination. On the outside chance they do, it will assure a Democrat victory. Mainstream conservatives and moderates will vote for third party candidates or stay home.

[freeangel]

Zogby sent out a poll yesterday that sounded like it was planning for a hillary /mccain battle. I hope mccain gets the message that in no way, would I EVER vote for him. My answer in all cases was "someone else."

[hershey]

McCain is toast, thank God.

[tkathy]

Guiliani/Rice would get possibly 70% of vote

[bill1952]

Who dropped out of the race vs Hillary for Senator?

Beating her is exactly what he needs to do to establish credibility on the National stage.

Right now, he may be very well liked, but he's just another ex mayor of NYC to most of the country and has no experience outside of that city that I'm aware of.

[Godebert]

"The only person that could make me vote for McCain is if he is running against the Beast: Queen Hillary"

I wouldn't care who is running against McCain or Julie-Annie on the dem side. No way would either of those gun-grabbers EVER get my vote.

[Godebert]

"All I can say is..if that's what we have to choose from, this ol' boy is sitting this one out. Looks like Hitlery is a shoe in. Wake up GOP!"

Not voting is lazy and ignorant. You could always vote for the Constitution party if you're really a Conservative. If the Constitution party is too Conservative for you then write-in somebody you like.

[stocksthatgoup]

Thanks but no thanks. Allen 08