Giuliani's Hold on Lead Spot Is Eroding (Kerik, Reputed Mob Ties Hurting Him, Just As Predicted)

The New York Sun ^ | 11/12/2007 | Russell Berman

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

WASHINGTON — Mayor Giuliani's hold on the front-runner's perch in the Republican presidential nomination is eroding, with two new polls showing that Mitt Romney is opening up a widening lead in New Hampshire, site of the first primary.

While Mr. Giuliani has maintained his lead in national polls and in several state surveys, the former Massachusetts governor is now comfortably ahead in both Iowa and New Hampshire, two hotly contested early-voting states that have traditionally played a crucial role in determining the Republican nominee.

Mr. Romney opened up a 12-point lead over Mr. Giuliani in New Hampshire, 32% to 20%, in a Boston Globe/University of New Hampshire poll released yesterday. He leads in the state by 11 points in the latest Marist College poll, also released yesterday. Senator McCain of Arizona, who in an appearance yesterday on "Fox News Sunday" guaranteed a Granite State victory, is running third in both surveys.

The polls indicate that Mr. Romney has solidified his advantage and perhaps shifted the dynamic of the Republican race, after several surveys in September suggested Mr. Giuliani had closed the gap in New Hampshire. Mr. Romney has held a consistent double-digit lead since the summer in Iowa, where voters will cast the first presidential ballots in a caucus on January 3.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Good news, good morning PING! ;)

[JCEccles]

With hopes in NH dwindling, Giuliani is privately cheering for Huckabee to do well in Iowa. He might even be supporting Huckabee secretly through back-channels. Because Giuliani is trailing Romney badly in Iowa as well, the only sensible strategy for Giuliani is to somehow trip Romney up in Iowa and prevent Romney from developing overwhelming momentum coming out of IA and NH. He has a slim outside chance of doing this via a surging Huckabee.

Huckabee is Giuliani's ally of convenience. Huckabee could even be his VP.

That's an ugly, dispiriting thought.

[ARE SOLE]

Doh !

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

"It's a girl thing. You wouldn't understand." ;)

[Coldwater Creek]

No, Mike Huckabee could never be Rudy’s VP. Huckabee’s supporter’s would never vote for Rudy.

[Jim Robinson]

Hoo-yah!!

[johnny7]

Yeah... but why the hell is Hucka-nanny benefiting?

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Thought you’d appreciate this one. ;)

[gridlock]

You mean it might not be Rudy/Hillary!?

I'm going to have to have new t-shirts printed up!

[Jim Robinson]

Romney’s not my favorite by far, but whatever it takes to knock out that corrupt, gun grabbing, draft dodging, abortionist, war profiteer Rudy JulieAnnie is fine by me,

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

You mean it might not be Rudy/Hillary!?

In all honesty (and only 'cause you're asking, albeit rhetorically): I honestly don't think Cankles (who's had an absolutely miserable two straight weeks of negative publicity, as of this writing; with her poll numbers plummeting appreciably, as a result) will end up being the Dem nominee, at the end of the day. And I will absolutely, positively GUARANTEE -- here and now; for the record -- that Giuliani won't be our candidate in '08. ;)

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Romney’s not my favorite by far, but whatever it takes to knock out that corrupt, gun grabbing, draft dodging, abortionist, war profiteer Rudy JulieAnnie is fine by me,

From your lips to God's ears. ;)

[ImpBill]

"Romney’s not my favorite by far ..."

Mild understatement I would say Mr. Robinson! LOL

[azhenfud]

Rudy - the only one who can beat Hillery - in sleaze.

[Caipirabob]

"He chose...poorly..."

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Rudy - the only one who can beat Hillery - in sleaze.

I'm imagining a cookie bake-off: the both of them looking appropriately butch in their homey, old style aprons... ;)

[Caipirabob]

"Ron Paul and his flaming antiwar spam monkeys can Kiss my Ass!!" -- Jim Robinson, 09/30/07

Oh LOL! I just love this site...

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

ROTFLMAO! Hysterical -- !!! ;)

[steveegg]

Now you see why the RNC halved the pool of the early primary states. Rudi's stragedy has always been to bank on Super Duper Tuesday.

If he and his RNC cronies could have figured a way to do the same to the Iowa caucuses, they would.