Posted on 03/02/2007 6:30:19 PM PST by PhiKapMom
By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent Fri Mar 2, 4:36 PM ET
Republican presidential hopeful Rudolph Giuliani acknowledged his differences with the party's conservative base on Friday but said bigger principles should be at stake in the race for the White House.
The former New York mayor led a parade of six Republican White House contenders who wooed frustrated conservatives at an annual convention. He asked the activists to look past his support for abortion rights, gay rights and gun control.
Giuliani, dubbed "America's Mayor" for his leadership after the September 11 attacks, touted his New York record of reducing crime, cutting city taxes and moving people from welfare to jobs.
"We all don't see eye to eye on everything. You and I have a lot of common beliefs that are the same, and we have some that are different," Giuliani told attendees at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference.
"The point of a presidential election is to figure out who do you believe the most, and what do you think are the most important things for this country at a particular time," he said.
Giuliani leads the Republican presidential field in national polls, but he and the other top-tier candidates -- Arizona Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney -- have been criticized for straying from conservative principles.
McCain championed campaign finance reform, opposed some of President George W. Bush's tax cuts and attacked conservative religious leaders during his 2000 presidential campaign. His decision not to appear at the three-day conservative gathering further angered some activists.
Romney has shifted his positions on social issues like abortion and gay rights to become more conservative.
Even many lesser-known candidates have sparked grumbling from conservatives, who have made their displeasure with the 2008 Republican field evident.
"DUDE, WHERE'S MY CANDIDATE?"
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, criticized for raising taxes as governor, promised to sign a pledge he would not raise taxes as president and joked about the state of distress at the conference.
"It might be renamed the conservative presidential anxiety conference," he said. "The theme might be, 'Dude, where's my candidate?"'
Huckabee and Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo also took veiled swipes at the top contenders, particularly Romney and his changing positions on hot-button social issues.
"We have to have leaders who understand that being a leader is about being a thermostat, not a thermometer," Huckabee said. "We can't afford to elect people who simply reflect a culture and reflect a common view, but don't necessarily believe it."
Tancredo, using a biblical reference, said such conversions "are supposed to be made on the road to Damascus, not the road to Des Moines."
California Rep. Duncan Hunter (news, bio, voting record) and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback (news, bio, voting record) stressed their opposition to abortion rights and their determination to appoint judges who would overturn the Supreme Court decision making it legal.
"If any judicial candidate comes before me who can look at a sonogram of an unborn child and not see a valuable human life, then I will not appoint that candidate to the federal bench," Hunter said.
Romney said he had seen the ineffectiveness of liberal policies while presiding over Massachusetts, one of the most liberal states in the country. He also promised to sign the pledge against tax increases and said he would repeal McCain's signature bill overhauling campaign finance laws.
Tancredo, who entered the race to stress his opposition to illegal immigration, said he had no problem with being called a single-issue candidate as long as people know "my single issue is the survival and success of the conservative movement in America."
Thanks for the post...kinda paints the real picture of Rudy in his own words.
"he said it was not a federal issue and he was right. "
It becomes a federal issue with the inevitable legal challenge based on the Article IV, Section 1 of the constitution - aka the "full faith and credit" clause.
Sorry, I forgot about Goldwater in 1964. But I think we can assume Eisenhower pretty much was the frontrunner in 1952. Yes, its still early but Rudy is still surging just as the election is getting more coverage.
Thanks for providing an article. It didn't really answer the question, which was aimed at poll numbers from a year before each primary.
The self-contradicting examples are Jimmuh Cartuh and Dean. Dean was the front runner in the race at this time in the primary season. The whole process has changed, like Dick says, "Now you have to win the American Media Primary of 2007 and then your victory is ratified in the primaries and caucuses of 2008." And we are seeing that get fleshed out right here today on FR and other boards across the country. Yesterday our No-Chance candidate came within a 1% difference of the leader and beating Giuliani in a straw poll. Rudy isn't delivering a fait accompli; far from it.
Question:
Based on what criteria and time before the first primary? Got actual data to back that up, including poll numbers from a year before each primary since 1952?
Here's the pertinent section of your Dick Morris article.
The old model — a Jimmy Carter labors in obscurity in the Iowa vineyards and then is discovered nationally after he wins there and sweeps all remaining primaries — is quaint but obsolete. Now you have to win the American Media Primary of 2007 and then your victory is ratified in the primaries and caucuses of 2008.
The importance of the front-runner
The key for the candidates is to become the early front-runner and hold the position for the first three quarters of 2007. Once that is accomplished, the nomination is probably in the bag. No clear front-runner, except for Rockefeller in 1964, has ever failed to win the nomination since the primary process became pivotal in party nominations in 1960.
Among Democrats, Kennedy in ’60, Humphrey, once he entered the race, in ’68, McGovern in ’72, Carter in ’76 and ’80, Mondale in ’84, Dukakis in ’88, Clinton in ’92, Gore in ’00 and Kerry in ’04 were front-runners who held their leads. Mondale, Clinton, Gore, and Kerry were front-runners who were briefly shaken by challengers (Hart, Tsongas, Bradley and Dean) but held on to win their nominations
Among Republicans, Nixon in ’60 and ’68, Ford in ’76, Reagan in ’80, Bush in ’88, Dole in ’96, and Bush in ’00 were all front-runners going in and the nominee coming out. Only Goldwater can be said to have pulled off an upset in 1964 by toppling Rockefeller.
So once there is a clear front-runner, he or she is likely to go all the way.
"The self-contradicting examples are Jimmuh Cartuh and Dean."
The article is the proof. I don't think Dick Morris is going to write an article that contradicts historical reality. Dean was not the frontrunner in March 2003. Kerry was the frontrunner. Dean didn't surge until summer 2003 but faded in Iowa and the original frontrunner, Kerry, won the nomination.
"Among Democrats, Kennedy in ’60, Humphrey, once he entered the race, in ’68, McGovern in ’72, Carter in ’76 and ’80, Mondale in ’84, Dukakis in ’88, Clinton in ’92, Gore in ’00 and Kerry in ’04 were front-runners who held their leads. Mondale, Clinton, Gore, and Kerry were front-runners who were briefly shaken by challengers (Hart, Tsongas, Bradley and Dean) but held on to win their nominations."
Jimmy Carter is the exception, not the rule.
No disrespect to Duncan Hunter. However, as a representative in the House (and not in a leadership position) his direct impact on legislation and policy is modest. On the other hand Giuliani turned around a dysfunctional megapolis while at the same time surrounded by lunatic liberals calling him a racist Nazi and fighting him tooth and nail. Giuliani was a proven leader in a hostile environment long before 9/11,
BTW I totally disagree with him on abortion, gun rights,immigration, and gay marriage but at this point he is the pick of the litter and the most capable of dealing with democrats and left wing media.
This demonstrates the elitist, unmitigated contempt in which Rudy holds conservatives.
"His Highness" deigned not to mention abortion, marriage, judges----the issues that drive conservativism. Rudy would not even throw a few crumbs to conservatives. The arrogant ignoramus expected to earn brownie points just for showing up.
These Everything-For-Us-Nothing-For-Conservatives types---are beyond the pale.
Rudy's intrusion in GOP politics is an insult to social conservatives----the crucial voters who are central to the Repub party's winning strategy. Rudy should GTH off the public stage, and out of our party, subito.
Duncan Hunter is a decorated US Army Ranger combat verteran. Trust me he knows plenty about leadership.
If you choose to pick out one word out of the entire sentence that says a lot about you!
WRONG...
READ it for yourself...
Article V
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress;...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.