Giuliani starts strong in test of Republican voter allegiances

Washington Post ^ | march 4, 2007 | DAN BALZ

[FairOpinion]

The man who was named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for his response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks is now leading in a slew of national polls and testing whether cultural and religious conservatives in the GOP will support a candidate who offers strong leadership on security and terrorism rather than ideological purity on social issues.

Whit Ayres, a Georgia-based Republican pollster, said he has been struck by the number of conservatives he encountered who disagree with Giuliani on abortion or gay rights but are still attracted to him as a possible Republican nominee. The issue is whether that appeal can survive through a long campaign in which Giuliani's New York record, his position on issues, his three marriages and his complex business dealings will be subjected to withering scrutiny.

The latest Washington Post-ABC News poll showed Giuliani leading McCain by 44 percent to 21 percent, with former House speaker Newt Gingrich at 15 percent and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney at 4 percent.

Many GOP strategists still question whether Giuliani can survive the scrutiny and develop a message that appeals to voters across the spectrum of Republican conservatism. In his speech Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, Giuliani highlighted his record as a tax cutter, crime fighter and welfare reformer. But he offered little resembling a traditional conservative agenda for the future, other than saying the United States must remain on offense against terrorism. The speech won a polite but hardly enthusiastic response from the audience of activists.

[Hatband]

In that case we should nominate someone like D. Hunter who doesn't have a significant percentage of conservatives who will NOT vote for him under any circumstances. In other words, we should nominate someone electable. As for Rooty, sure, I'd vote for him, just not in this lifetime.

[jim35]

That would be a good move on his part, and one that would make me feel a lot better about him. I've had enough of Republicans who spend our money like it was water.

[narses]

Applause!

[nopardons]

No, dear, I wasn't at the Stonewall that night nor any other time; I was, however, living in Manhattan at the time and know far more about it than you do.

[nopardons]

Would you vote for Newt, if my some strange happenstance he was the GOP's candidate?

[mylife]

By the way.. we all know that the voting demographic of NY is represented by NYC. Folks in the Adirondacks aren't swaying the vote

[FairOpinion]

"D. Hunter who doesn't have a significant percentage of conservatives who will NOT vote for him "

But he does have a very large number of independents and Democrats who will NOT vote for him.

Any R candidate needs the votes of independent and Dems to actully win.

Rudy has a crossover appeal, sufficient to beat Hillary. That's why the Hillary operatives are out in full force, having the MSM keep churning out articles, telling conservatives how awful Rudy is.

[dmw]

"Why the fanatical support?"

He drinks a lot of kool-aid. Sadly, he doesn't put sugar in it which explains why he such a bitter, miserable human being.

[nopardons]

Good! Stay away from it and stop talking about things that have happened there, that you know NOTHING at all about.

[motormouth]

Thank you ;o)

I know exactly what Rudy is...what he is for, what he is against. I posed that question to nopardons in the hopes of some recognition that the statement she/he made, in regards to Rudy being MORE conservative on some important issues, was completely false. That didnt happen, but I tried. :o)

MM

I agree 100% with your post.

[jim35]

["Now you're just proving your provincialism;"]

You say "provincialism" like it was a dirty word. I live in a small town in Arkansas. It's really quite provincial. You are cordially invited to kiss my provincial a**, city girl.

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

The homeless drag queens in Sheridan Square across the street weren't homeless?

My mistake. You were there, not me.

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

So please... tell us how there was no drug dealing, no underage prostitutes, no mobbed-up owners. Enlighten us. You were near there. Enlighten us with your expertise.

[mylife]

You know what? Ive seen nuthing but smoke since this thing started and I suspect thats just what the dems intend.

When a serious candidate enters the race(and In talking both sides) give me a call

[mylife]

in=I'm

[nopardons]

America doesn't want a backbencher nobody, with no real business experience, who is a BIG GOVERNMENT, PROTECTIONIST, whose couldn't even manage his own checking account.

Hunter can't win the primary; let alone the general election. And he has the same stance, as Rudy does, on partial birth abortion.

[mylife]

And You Keep NYC away from me?


Deal?

[nopardons]

No, I have never claimed to, nor do I know everything about everything; however, I most assuredly do know that Jim Webb didn't run against Rick Santorum, that there is a great deal of difference between Hillary and Rudy, and that those of you who say that if Rudy wins the primary, they won't vote for him, makes you dangerous to this nation.

[dmw]

"Would you vote for Newt, if (my) some strange happenstance he was the GOP's candidate?"

Spelling error almighty one. I know you believe in pointing out people's mistakes here, surely you would want the same done for you. I am glad to be of service to you. You brought this on my friend.

[mylife]

All right gang, its 3 am

Cyall later