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."

[tomcorn]

The Simple reality is the Culture warriors are gonna have to suck it up and vote for President Rudy or not suck it up and accept a president Hillary. Given that reality their choice becomes amazingly simple.

[PzLdr]

As long as "conservatives" will vote for the likes of Rudy, the GOP will never get back to its conservative roots. It won't have to. And I'm not whining, nor am I lazy. I've just had enough. You may have been too lazy to research Rudy, but I've lived in NY all my life. Got to see him close up. 9/11 made him. And aside from that day,he has more baggage than a 747. I'm just not buying. And while I'm no liberal, you may well be a lemming.

[TitansAFC]

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

Sometimes fighting for your principles means saving the movement over the party.

If Rudy loses - the GOP knows it needs the grassroots Social/Moral/Gun/Cultural Conservatives, and will stay in the fight for their causes. If he wins - they'll dump them faster than a ugly girlfriend, now certain that those issues are polarizing, irrelevant, and unnecessary for victory. Then the issues are dead, or as close as they can be to dead.

[BunnySlippers]

I have long hoped that we would prevail ... in this election and ones past. We have not.

I have hope that it will happen this time. But just barely. :-|

[BigSkyFreeper]

Go build whatever party you intend on building. You're obviously no conservative.

[tomcorn]

All this "I will never vote for Rudy as God is my witness" stuff from the Culture Warriors is is posturing crap. Given the choice between Rudy and Hillary, they will vote Rudy without a moment's hesitation.

Now isn't that right?

[BigSkyFreeper]

Sometimes fighting for your principles means saving the movement over the party.

Join the Democrats then.

[IslandJeff]

9/11 made him

So, the Mayor himself exercising his executive duties had nothing to do with his political appeal whatsoever?

What are you looking for in a Chief Exec?

[TitansAFC]

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

If it were about me, I wouldn't pound the pavement every election for free. I wouldn't give hundreds of hour of my own time to causes I believe are essential to this country.

If it were about me, I'd just side with whoever would make me look the most popular to the most people. And I'd take no sides in the controversial issues that make enemies out of friends.

[TitansAFC]

Tell me BigSky,

Suppose Rudy wins. Then he follows through on all of those speeches he's given and seeks thorough and stanch gun control - something he expressly believes in.

Then suppose he makes his much desired move to remove the Pro-Life platform from the Party.

Tell me, BigSky, what then for us?

[narses]

I’m pro-choice. I’m pro-gay rights, Giuliani said. He was then asked whether he supports a ban on what critics call partial-birth abortions. “No, I have not supported that, and I don’t see my position on that changing,” he responded. Source: CNN.com, “Inside Politics” Dec 2, 1999 http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Rudy_Giuliani_Abortion.htm

ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES (November 14, 2006)

RUDY GIULIANI (R), FORMER MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY: I'm pro- choice. I'm pro-gay rights.

KING: Giuliani supports a woman's right to an abortion, and back in 1999, he opposed a federal ban on late-term abortions.

GIULIANI: No, I have not supported that, and I don't see my position on that changing.

KING: Immigration could be another presidential landmine. Back in 1996, Mayor Giuliani went to federal court to challenge new federal laws requiring the city to inform the federal government about illegal immigrants.

JEFFREY: He took the side of illegal immigrants in New York City against the Republican Congress.

KING: Giuliani opposes same-sex marriage but as mayor, he supported civil unions and extending health and other benefits to gay couples. He also supported the assault weapons ban and other gun control measures opposed by the National Rifle Association.

GIULIANI: I'm in favor of gun control. I'm pro-choice.

Republican Big-Wigs Support Pro-Abortion Event in NY

Pro-abortion Governor George Pataki and New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who also supports unrestricted abortion, are co-chairs of the 2000 Choice Award Presentation to be held on May 30 at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. The event is sponsored by the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition, a group that is campaigning for the removal of the pro-life plank from the Republican National Platform.


http://www.nationalreview.com/murdock/murdock200503010743.asp

[TitansAFC]

Actaully, it's more likely we'd run a third-party candidate than vote for Hitlery.

But knowing Rudy, he'd probably have the lawyers suing everywhere to try and stop that. So we might be stuck voting Hitlery.

[upsdriver]

I would never vote for Hillary. That said, I would never vote for a pro abort repub. I hope that enough folks agree so that we will never be put in that position. Our nominee must be prolife or he/she will lose. It's really that simple.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Suppose Rudy wins. Then he follows through on all of those speeches he's given and seeks thorough and stanch gun control - something he expressly believes in.

What do you care? You're voting for Hillary. If gungrabbing and the sanctity of life your biggest issues, why are you taking an unprincipled stand and voting for Hillary?

[PhiKapMom]

Great -- the rest of us are most likely going to need the same thing! :)

[TitansAFC]

---"What do you care? You're voting for Hillary. If gungrabbing and the sanctity of life your biggest issues, why are you taking an unprincipled stand and voting."---

I do care, and I need one party that does - not two that don't.

[BunnySlippers]

If he wins - they'll dump them faster than a ugly girlfriend, now certain that those issues are polarizing, irrelevant, and unnecessary for victory.

This is one of the most telling posts I've seen in a long time. So you anti-Rudy people are AFRAID that if Rudy wins that the party will stop pandering to your ideas of forcing your morality on others.

Many people who would otherwise vote Republican don't ... because they fear [rightly so in my book] the Jerry Falwell branch of the party.

W. gave them a swift kick in 2000 and they deserve another and soon.

[PhiKapMom]

Any who would sit home in a snit over perceived or actual shortcomings in ANY candidate who opposes her, in my opinion, plays a pawns role in the process.

Very well stated! Rant anytime because you speak the absolute truth!

[upsdriver]

No, that is not right. You need to understand, to me, voting for someone who supports abortion is like sanctioning it. I will not vote for a Rudy, etc., ever!

[BunnySlippers]

Oh, touche!