Posted on 02/19/2007 6:38:26 AM PST by meg88
Two Democratic presidential candidates with national campaign experience are stumbling.
A Republican candidate who has run only municipal campaigns is confounding expectations, calling into question some assumptions about Republican voters.
Regarding the Republican race, for many months commentators have said that when the Republican base learns the facts about Rudy Giuliani's personal life (an annulled first marriage, a messy divorce, then a third marriage) and views on social issues (for abortion rights, gay rights and gun control, in each case with limits), support for him will evaporate.
But such commentary is becoming self-refuting.
The insistent reiteration of it during Giuliani's coast-to-coast campaigning is telling activist Republicans -- the sort of people who read political commentary -- the facts about Giuliani.
And so far those facts are not causing a recoil from him.
This does not mean that the social issues have lost their saliency. People for whom opposition to abortion is very important might think that in wartime it is not supremely important.
Or they might reason, correctly, that presidents can change abortion policy only by changing the Supreme Court, so Giuliani's pledge to nominate justices like Antonin Scalia, Samuel Alito and John Roberts is sufficient.
California's primary is being moved up to Feb. 5, and New Jersey's and some other states' might be moved to that date, so Giuliani's views on social issues might become advantages.
Markets are mechanisms that generate information. The political market is working: Americans are learning much about the candidates, and themselves.
(Excerpt) Read more at suntimes.com ...
What? We're not all suicidal ideologues?
George Will has some valid points, but I would still be surprised if Giuliani get the Republican nod.
Check back in a year, and we will see where Rudy is polling.
Edwards is the single most irritating, transparently insincere candidate on the scene.
If Cali moves it's primary to Feb 5, the race may be over by Super Tuesday next year.
How so, George? The most recent poll on the matter shows 57% of the base can't even tell you Giuliani's position on abortion. 50% of the same group says a candidate's support for abortion rights would make them less likely to vote for him.
Remember how much the MSM thought he'd help Kerry in '04? What a useless running mate he turned out to be.
Don't sell yourself short. You're a suicidal pro-abortion ideologue.
George is reading the Des Moines Register for inside scoops again.
The prmaries are super frontloaded if CA goes to Feb and that may help Rudy a lot.
It is hard to fathom that Rudy is a fresh face given his exposure but for many he is.
No, confounding expectations that Republicans still believe in limited government....but, then, most thinking people know that that that "assumption" is a farce which is perpetuated to keep the conservative sheeple in line on election day.
George Will gets his paycheck from the limousine leftist media establishment...
In a race with Hillary in it, that is SOME accomplishment...
Rudy is the man.
Let's see...
Rudy certainly did a masterful job on 9/11 and in the aftermath as Mayor of NYC. I don't doubt his ablitiy to lead as a wartime president...
BUT:
1) Pro-abortion -- even partial birth abortion...
2) Pro-gay marriage (or "civil unions")
3) Pro-illegal alien -- weak on border security/amnesty for illegals
4) Pro-Gun Control -- for confiscating firearms excpet for government licensed weapons (generally for military and law enforcement)
Ah, no. Don't try it. I've been Bushed and Doled too often. I've been told to compromise the principles I hold too often. If the Republicans WANT to lose, choose Rudy. I like the guy, but I won't violate my principles to make him president. Not this time.
Patriot Preacher
Rudy's shamelessly overzealous record as a prosecutor almost puts him in the same class as Nyfong.
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