Giuliani a tough conservative sell

AP on Yahoo ^ | 1/25/07 | Liz Sidoti - ap

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON - Rudy Giuliani's star has hardly dimmed in the five years since terrorists attacked his city on Sept. 11, 2001, and he became a national hero _ the face of U.S. resolve at a time of tragedy.

The Republican dubbed "America's Mayor" hopes to ride that celebrity and his record at City Hall to the White House by emphasizing his leadership skills and embracing the strong-on-security, limited-government tenets of the GOP.

"If he can handle the scrutiny, and if events break his way, sure, he can win," said Fred Siegel, who wrote a Giuliani biography, "The Prince of the City."

Giuliani's quest to capture his party's presidential nomination won't be easy.

He's a moderate Republican from New York City, on the wrong side of social issues in the eyes of hard-core conservatives who are a crucial voting bloc in the primaries. His mayoral tenure was marked by criticism of an overzealous police force. He's linked to the city's scandal-plagued ex-police chief Bernard Kerik. His thicket of business interests could pose conflicts. He's been divorced twice.

"I sure have strengths and weaknesses," Giuliani said recently. "I think that sort of puts me in the same category as just about everybody else that's running. Are my strengths greater or my weaknesses worse? I don't know. You have to sort of examine that. That won't be the issue."

His challenge will be to remind voters of his take-charge attitude on Sept. 11 and his two-term mayoral reign, at the same time his main rivals _ Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) of Arizona and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney _ no doubt will try to exploit his background and record. For now, both are trying to gauge how much of a threat he may be.

Giuliani, who formed a presidential exploratory committee last year, is betting that the Republican rank-and-file will look past his liabilities. His aides dismiss skeptics who say he has too many flaws to win over primary voters a year from now.

"I believe they'll look at the picture as a whole," said Tony Carbonetti, Giuliani's longtime political adviser. "This (New York) was an unmanageable city, and I think what people want today is a manager, someone to lead in difficult times and to lead in not-difficult times.

"We're going to continue to tell that story," he said.

Before Sept. 11, Giuliani was known as the hard-charging prosecutor-turned-politician who cleaned up Times Square, led the city out of fiscal despair and brought Republican rule back to the liberal mecca.

Giuliani, of course, made enemies in the process, but on Sept. 11 even his chronic critics were muted when he took charge amid the rubble of the World Trade Center's twin towers. To many, he became a picture of strength, a reminder of the resilience of the American spirit.

"He has a connection to that. He is unique. On the other hand you look at the politics and you say this is a problem," said Alex Vogel, a Republican strategist in Washington who is not affiliated with any presidential candidate.

"The question is: Can you win a Republican primary a different way? History keeps saying no. But history has never presented us with someone whose favorability numbers are as high as Rudy's."

Indeed, national polls have consistently shown him leading for the GOP nomination, and early surveys in key states show him ahead or competitive. He travels to one important state, New Hampshire, this weekend where he will give the keynote address at the state GOP's annual meeting.

For all the hype since 2001, Giuliani didn't start preparing for a presidential run in earnest until after November's elections. Thus, he has lagged behind McCain and Romney in courting fundraisers, setting up a national organization and hiring ground operatives in key states, although he has made progress on all fronts recently.

Giuliani's aides insist they're making strides toward filling out his campaign. They say he can raise the $80 million to $100 million necessary this year for a serious run. Name recognition, obviously, isn't an issue.

Neither, his supporters argue, is likability. They say he appeals to people across the political spectrum and in every region of the country, meaning he could expand the general election playing field. That, his backers say, makes him the Republican most likely to beat the presumptive Democratic front-runner, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.

Perhaps.

But first he has to capture the GOP nomination _ and the big question is whether he can win over enough Republicans in states like Iowa and South Carolina, among the first nominating contests where voters are solid conservatives and could be turned off by his stance on social issues.

"Giuliani is going to have to convince people that he's more conservative than his record otherwise would suggest," said Peverill Squire, who teaches politics at the University of Iowa.

The former mayor's support for abortion rights, gay rights and gun control conflict with the hard-line positions of the GOP's right. His supporters say he's not as liberal on those issues as he's made out to be. Still, he's from New York _ and that alone rankles the party's conservative wing.

Despite that, Giuliani's backers contend _ and some Republican strategists agree _ that he could get support from fiscal conservatives because of his record of cutting taxes, curbing spending and promoting small government, particularly now when the base is smarting over the soaring federal deficit under Republicans.

And, with the country still at war, his link to Sept. 11 _ the brand of a strong leader _ could trump the base's concerns about his background and stand on social issues.

"Giuliani's national security credentials will allow him to span ideological divides in the Republican Party and win conservative votes," said Greg Strimple, a GOP strategist in New York who is neutral in the race.

Unknown is whether Giuliani can woo enough of those base Republican voters to win the nomination and, if not, whether he can make up the difference by attracting independents and Democrats.

"His opening could come if people really think that somebody like Hillary is running away with it, and if there's a perception that only Giuliani can beat her," said John Truscott, an unaffiliated Republican strategist in Michigan.

Another factor that could help Giuliani is how the primary calendar shakes out.

New Hampshire and Michigan hold early contests, and New Jersey, California, Illinois, Florida and other states viewed as more hospitable to a moderate may schedule their votes earlier in the year, perhaps lessening the importance of a strong showing for Giuliani in Iowa and South Carolina.

For all the obstacles, even folks with ties to Giuliani's opponents can't deny that the New Yorker has a shot.

Said Ken Khachigian of California, who served as a strategist for President Reagan and was with McCain in 2000: "I would never sell Giuliani short."

[freedomfiter2]

Have you read my tagline yet? Who do you think that is about? Hmmmmmmmmmmm???


Lewinski's coming back?

[Jrabbit]

I was not that convinced about Rudy til I started reading this thread. After reading your hysterical posts, I'm sure now. Rudy has my vote. Thanks!

[BigSkyFreeper]

I would rather lose one election and try again in four years, than lose all of the issues I care deeply about permanently.

Vote for Hillary and you might as well say good bye to "all of the issues I care deeply about" permanently.

[Owen]

NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN BEATING HILLARY.

I got no problems with Guilliani because I don't care about principle this cycle beyond one criteria: is the GOP candidate rightward of Hillary. He can be pro Choice, anti Gun and pro tax increase and I don't care -- provided he is 1 iota less pro Choice, 1 iota less anti Gun and 1 iota less pro tax increase than she is -- and any GOP nominee will be that.

I do worry about this guy's liberal ex wife. And pictures of him in drag. I can't see how a liberal ex wife deciding to claim abuse in October 2008 can be avoided. Not a risk I want to take, but if he's nominated, he has my vote and a few bucks too.

I don't care about ANYTHING more than beating Hillary. Not anything is more important than that.

[going hot]

Was reading your page and noticed line 14, about the judge appointments.

So.....what type of judges do you think hillary would appoint, you know, who get to sit and decide for say, the rest of their lives, and not just four years.

[onyx]

The poster's state (IL) will go for the democrat regardless. It's always interesting to check a poster's state flag. Several of the more vociferous and demanding are stuck in solid blue states.

[TitansAFC]

---"And, last night, you struck me as a fellow traveler."---

What Rudy-ophiles won't tell you is that Rudy basically put to death the already weakened Pro-Life and Pro-Second Amendment movements in NY. I don't want that repeated nationwide.

Yes, my friend, I would honestly vote Hitlery over Rudy. I've been hitting the pavement for candidates and working with two solid grassroots organizations for many years now, and I tell you honestly, Rudy is a bigger threat to many of us than Hitlery.

As I said, there is already a movement in the GOP to purge all of the issues I care most about from the Republican Party. If they get their guy - Rudy - we're done. I mean all of the issues we've fought for - they're as good as dead.

I would actually seek to vote for a Conservative Third Party candidate first, but in the case that it's only Rudy or Hitlery - yes, I would honest to God prefer Hitlery.

ANYONE but Rudy - ANYONE, and I'm on board the GOP train.

[Jrabbit]

Standing ovation for your post!

[SierraWasp]

All you have to do is look what's happening to conservatism in CA at the hands of Schwartzeneggerism, and the current supposed "leadership" of the CAGOP that are just like Rudy on the issues.

Personally, I admire Rudy and the way he did his job under unbelievable pressures that horrible day, but he ruined a lot of that with his ill advised attempt to push a crony off on President Bush and embarrassed everybody!!!

Anyway, back to CA. We Recalled a dippy Democrat and replaced him with an even dippier doozie of a politically gender confused celebrity that has turned out to be a borrow and spend girlyman of the first order.

Maria is the true Governor of CA!!!

[Afronaut]

Kerik May Have Never Filed Necessary Background Checks

Melissa Russo, Government Affairs Reporter
UPDATED: 2:53 pm EST December 17, 2004

The big question: Did Bernard Kerik fill out the proper paperwork to become police commissioner? If he did, would he have passed the test? If he did not, then why not?

When a mayor selects someone for a high-level post in city government, that nominee is required to go through an extensive background check even if they've already gone through that process for a previous city job.

In 2000, then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani promoted Kerik from correction commissioner to be his top cop.

http://www.wnbc.com/news/4004260/detail.html

[BigSkyFreeper]

The poster's state (IL) will go for the democrat regardless. It's always interesting to check a poster's state flag. Several of the more vociferous and demanding are stuck in solid blue states.

They're the most vociferous in their lectures about the rest of us being not being real conservatives.

[onyx]

So it seems.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Impossible sell.

[TitansAFC]

---"Vote for Hillary and you might as well say good bye to "all of the issues I care deeply about" permanently."---

Not true. But Rudy would be then end of them. Then we have to fight both parties, which is far worse.

[IslandJeff]

yes, I would honest to God prefer Hitlery

You'll change your mind. We have a long way to go.

[BunnySlippers]

Rudy's Supreme Court picks will be vastly superior to Hillary's.

And I do believe he will convince you of that in the next 2 years. If not, join the Hillary campaign. Yiou make much of supporting her.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Not true. But Rudy would be then end of them.

And Hillary won't? We haven't even scratched the surface of what Congress will look like in 2 years.

Then we have to fight both parties, which is far worse.

Stand for your principles first. Voting for Hillary shouldn't be one of them.

[TitansAFC]

---"Do you need her website address? She could use volunteers like you. You're doing her a great favor thses days."---

No. But talk to me after the GOP Primaries, if Northeastern Liberal Rudy becomes the new standard for the GOP.

[SierraWasp]

Maybe Hitlery will hire her to keep her close in the Oral Orofice, ya 'spose?

[Sunsong]

Maybe it's not about you? Maybe there is a much larger picture here?