Free Republic

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who for months was the first presidential choice of California Republicans, may have blown it. A new statewide Field Poll is the latest survey to confirm that Giuliani, who sat out the first round of primaries to concentrate on the big states such as Florida and California, has slipped behind Arizona Sen. John McCain and other Republican hopefuls. Ten months ago, Giuliani claimed more than a third of California GOP voters in the Field Poll, with McCain the only other candidate reaching double digits. But the latest survey, taken this month, found that he...

HOUSTON -- Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani on Friday urged conservatives to look past his support for abortion rights, arguing that his divergence on the issue should not disqualify him from being the party's GOP nominee. ***snip*** Describing his belief that abortion was "morally wrong," Giuliani said he has opposed it all his life. But he said he believes the decision should ultimately be left to individuals and that their decisions should be respected. "In a country like ours ... I believe you have to respect their viewpoint and give them a level of choice. I would grant women the...

One of the liberal favorites for this treatment is Rudy Giuliani who, when actually in office, constantly bedeviled the left. Up until 9/11, he was portrayed as a bull-headed, dictatorial, tin god who was insensitive to minorities and in general, a detestable bully. Sure, he’s a pro-abortion, gun-grabbing, gay rights advocate, but what good was that when he was merely a mayor? Now that they see him as a national figure, he is the epitome of all that secular liberals love; a divorced Catholic at odds with the Church over some of its most sacred public stances. But despite the...