Breaking News: Rudy Giuliani hints at dropping out

LA Times ^ | 28 January 2008 | Andrew Malcolm

[.cnI redruM]

Rudy Giuliani appears to be pondering an end to his long pursuit of the Republican presidential nomination.

In a meeting in the back of his chartered plane en route to St. Petersburg, Fla., a short while ago, the onetime, longtime GOP front-runner told a small group of reporters, including The Times' Louise Roug: "The winner of Florida will win the nomination."

[bill1952]

He is going to get a LOT of votes. Watch on Tuesday.

[EternalVigilance]

Sorry you can only handle soundbites.

[over3Owithabrain]

I agree with you on Rudy. But don’t expect much of that around here.

[MrLee]

“Alan Keyes is still in the race.”

TRUE!!

[magritte]

Non-story. Giuliani’s in through Super Tuesday...magritte

[modyoulater]

It’s going to be Mitt - no matter how much some fallen Freepers hate.

[EternalVigilance]

FReepers have always “hated” liberals. You didn’t get the memo?

[colorado tanker]

The only President I can think of in the last century or so who hadn't held statewide office was Ike, but leading all forces on the Western front was rather a good indicator of his leadership and executive skills. :-))

Jack Kemp couldn't get over the top without having won a statewide race. I was surprised an ex-Mayor, even ex-NYC mayor, showed so well in the early polls, so I guess I'm not so surprised it looks like he's about through.

I'm sure a lot of liberal Republicans would like to through social conservatives under the bus, but it won't happen. The party has a three-legged base and removing one of the legs brings the stool down. Huckster is finding that out by trying to throw the pro-growth, pro-business people under the bus.

[bill1952]

Strangely, after receiving numerous poll calls here, nobody has asked me that question.

To ask someone if they have voted, and then ask them who they support is somewhat ... dumb.

[dashing doofus]

Also, Rudy was considered a potential candidate for so long that the Republicans had a chance to examine his liberal tendancies and didn’t like everything they saw.

More than just tendencies, though: http://www.liberalparty.org/Feb94Page1.html

[Kimberly GG]

“Hope he hangs in until after the Floriduh primaries.

He may siphon votes away from McCain there - lots of liberal New Yorkers retire there.”

Just heard a quote by Guiliani saying that if he weren’t running, he’d be supporting McCain. Will his supporters follow? I don’t know....but McShamnesty MUST be stopped.

[highball]

“Seems like Rudy will win NY and NJ and California if arnuld manages to endorse someone other than Hillary or Obama”

How does it seem like that? McCain leads Rudy by an average of 9 points in New York, 15 points in California and 3 points in New Jersey in the recent polls.

I suspect that Rudy will in fact drop out if he doesn't win Florida, if only to avoid a really embarrassing primary loss in his home state.

If he drops out before Super Tuesday, he can scrounge some dignity out of it. Losing New York might well make him a laughingstock and therefore impact his future earning plans.

[fortheDeclaration]

her heart doesn't seem to be in being a senator.

Not enough power!

[The Wizard]

Read the piece, he didn’t hint at droppoing out he said he was going to win....Only on the left....

[bill1952]

McCain has very good roots with the Cubans and he had Lieberman running all over little Havana for him

There are 4 main Cuban/American groups here.
All four endorsed McCain.

[rising tide]

Bluebeak says”Another Romney tactic (like the one done on Fred Thompson)?”

Don’t lay the false rumor on Romney,a McCain supporter at the politico was behind the dirty politics claiming Thompson was dropping out and endorsing McCain.

[bluebeak]

Romney support is paid support ... the GOP will go down in flames with him heading the ticket in Nov.

[ZULU]

I think so. His predessor Koch is supporting Hillary and McCain in the Republican Primary.

[Liz]

........a lot of liberal Republicans would like to throw social conservatives under the bus, but it won't happen. The party has a three-legged base and removing one of the legs brings the stool down........

Repubs CANNOT win without so/cons. They know it. And we know it. Rooty's demise more than underlines this universally accepted political reality.

[LexBaird]

Sorry you can only handle soundbites.

As if Keyes could manage to gin up enough attention to even get a soundbite. Get back to us when he has actually managed to win an election, anywhere, for anything. Until then, he's just another retired bureaucrat/failed pundit.