Posted on 01/25/2007 8:32:31 PM PST by 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."
It was even worse in 2000 on here! At least to date it was worse -- may get worse yet.
I think Santorum should bide his time and run for Governor.
Regards, Ivan
That's exactly what I was wishing he had done.
So am I! It is after 2 a.m. (CST) which slightly passed my bedtime! :)
Why is that? Could it possibly be because you would have to look it all up and finally admit that your use of those pictures of Rudy Giuliani are exactly what you've been told they are, many 100s, if not 1,000s of times, in the past? And THAT would make YOU look even worse than you already do!
What are you so terrified of?
Why don't you and your buddies ever post the pictures of Rudy Giuliani riding onto the stage, on a HARLEY, for one of these Charity shows, NOT in female dress?
Regards, Ivan
He let the media define him which I think cost him the election. I like candidates that tell the media where to go when they are out of line.
I agree. I think if Santorum put in a term or two as PA governor in the future, he'd have a pretty good shot at the White House.
Yes, I noticed and I also noticed that he dragged in his "pals".
No, really, I'm leaving "the Emerald City". Can't take WA Soviet and "City of Nice Starbucks" anymore.
Texas or Arizona. Let the games begin!
Yep. Most voters who cling to every word uttered by the media will vote against the guy the media is bashing. Allen's best hopes is to be a lobbyist or some sort of high position in the GOP.
That will NOT happen! We will remember all the people who have said that they will vote for Hillary or stay home or vote fringe and we will NOT allow them to get away with their complaining.
Newt is NOT a viable presidential candidate and he is also NOT nearly as "conservative" as some would try to convince us of.
Nope, you are attempting to begin a flame war, hijack this thread, and make it all about YOU. Pity that..............
Regards, Ivan
The only poeple who think FR was unified are those who weren't there at the time.
Some of us use stories of those flame wars to frighten children into going to bed on time. ;-)
FR wasn't united at all in 2000.
The pendulum swung too far right and the MSM was able to define Republicans as being out of touch. It is swinging back and we have to hope we can stop it before it swings left or we are in trouble. The voices that spoke out against Congress and then stayed home to teach a lesson are going to be drowned out.
Think that is why you are seeing more of the traditional conservatives stepping forward this early and it is already got some of the media nervous. I was shocked at our precinct meetings to discover that I wasn't the only one favoring Rudy. We learned a real hard lesson in OK and a lot of us don't want a repeat performance at the national level.
Believe that if Rudy is nominated, you will see some of the Republicans that have been fairly quiet as they have been drowned out by louder voices move out in front to right the ship. When I saw Pete Sessions was helping Rudy, it spoke volumes to me because he understands what it takes to win. My Congressman has one of the smartest political minds I have ever seen and he now heads NRCC. Also one of the best fundraisers and I firmly believe with good candidates he and his right hand people will recruit, we will take back the House. He is more of a traditionalist Republican and someone I trust to bring us victory in the House.
I am an optimist but I think the Democrats in power will help unite Republicans when we leave the Convention. We have to have a leader that is as tough as nails on the WOT and no wishy washy person. It is too important to trust to the spineless Democrats.
As far as I am concerned, Newt's credibility is dangerously close to zero.
ROTFLOL...that's true, that's oh SO true! :-)
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