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Outside the Beltway

Rudy Giuliani Takes First Step in 2008 Presidential Race

James Joyner
15

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Rudy Giuliani has dipped his toe into the 2008 presidential waters.

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, a moderate Republican best known for his stewardship of the city after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, has taken the first step in a 2008 presidential bid.

The former mayor filed papers to create the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Exploratory Committee, Inc., establishing a New York-based panel that would allow him to raise money to explore a White House run and travel the country.

The contest is a ridiculously long way away but Giuliani instantly becomes the 1B to John McCain’s 1A among Republican hopefuls. He is, in my view, the most interesting of the major contenders and the one that offers the best hope toward ending the virtual 50-50 divide that we’ve been trapped in the last couple of presidential cycles.

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15 responses to “Rudy Giuliani Takes First Step in 2008 Presidential Race”

  1. amok92 Avatar
    amok92

    LMAO – how is a homo luvin’ New Yorker going to win the SC primary? It will be fun to watch him grovel at Bob Jones university at least.

  2. Len Avatar
    Len

    If the Republicans want to forever sever their ties with the evangelicals (which I do not see as a bad thing), they will nominate Rudy.

  3. anjin-san Avatar
    anjin-san

    I can’t get past the fact then when his country called on him to serve as the head of homeland security during wartime, Rudy had more important things to do…

  4. geezer Avatar
    geezer

    McCain’s a legendary hothead and should never occupy the Oval Office ‘cept for an odd visit now and then.

    Conservatives better get used to our tent being big enough for Rudy to run, or get ready for Hillary to rule. We have no one else who can credibly push the nat’l security issues and still carry moderates and independents from across the board.

  5. Derrick Avatar
    Derrick

    Rudy is one of those guys that seems feast or famine. He could float to an 6-8 point win as a President or provide a Dukakis like implosion that sets the Republicans back for years. The 9/11 stuff is going to provide him a big cushion to start with, but once he truly gets the John Kerry/George Allen scrutiny from the press in terms of business dealings, tempermant and other things, the campaign might chew him apart.

  6. Wendy Orange Avatar
    Wendy Orange

    This is for Rudy Guiliani. We took a long flight from Israel together. I mean we were the only ones up and watched the same movie and chatted. I left you a letter. Even tho I am far left if one needs such monikers, I wrote you what you need to do to win. I did so because 12 hours of sitting behind you and chatting much of the night gave me a sense of who you are: Menchy, easy, friendly, frumpy (that’s a plus in my book) and even though I think you are off on the Palestinians I, a Jew, New Yorker, believe there is nothing you can’t learn. And tell us straight. And be nothing like Bush. And win way over Hillary. Where do I sign up to donate? You are my pick!

  7. Triumph Avatar
    Triumph

    I, a Jew, New Yorker, believe there is nothing you can’t learn. And tell us straight. And be nothing like Bush. And win way over Hillary. Where do I sign up to donate? You are my pick!

    Uh, Wendy, THIS ISN’T RUDY’S BLOG. Send your thoughts to rudy@giulianipartners.com

  8. superdestroyer Avatar
    superdestroyer

    This just shows you how bankrupt that the Republicans are. The twice divorced New Yorker would experience an “October” surprise every week from Labor Day until Election day. The Democrat machine run by Rahm Emanuel would shred Rudy with gossip and rumors about his personal and business life.

    It seems that the Republicans have not learned that they cannot run any candidate that has a single skeleton in his closet.

  9. California Yankee Avatar
    California Yankee

    Can Giuliani overcome his “moderate” views: pro-choice; doesn’t support a ban on partial-birth abortions, opposed the Bush tax cut; pro-gun control, pro-abortion-rights; and pro-gay rights?

  10. Adam Herman Avatar
    Adam Herman

    Giuliani is probably going to have to write off the South. Which is fine. The Midwest and Northeast and California aren’t going to hold his social liberalism against him that much.

  11. geezer Avatar
    geezer

    “This just shows you how bankrupt that the Republicans are. The twice divorced New Yorker would experience an “October” surprise every week from Labor Day until Election day. The Democrat machine run by Rahm Emanuel would shred Rudy with gossip and rumors about his personal and business life.

    It seems that the Republicans have not learned that they cannot run any candidate that has a single skeleton in his closet.”

    Superdestroyer, I hear what you and others are saying. Rudy can’t win primaries because of his divorce, positions on gun-control, abortion, gay rights, whatever.

    Please remember: he’s not a member of the “Conservative Party,” but a member of the “Republican Party,” and gladly campaigned for and was welcomed by candidates who disagreed with him on social issues. Our party long ago accepted voters who espouse non-conservative positions on those social issues. Are you saying that the Republican Party should now purge itself of anyone who is pro-abortion, pro-gun control and pro-gay rights?

    Not saying such a purge would be wrong, if that’s what you truly believe a modern political party should do. Just don’t think such a party would have a chance in hell of holding any sway with the majority of American voters.

    As for Giuliani surviving Dem attacks on his public/private record, this may be one of the few benefits of having the Clintons around. Rudy’s never pretended to be anybody else than who he is, and has always been able to defend himself. For me, and obviously many others, his positives far outweigh his negatives.

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