Rudy Giuliani 2012? Bill Kristol says yes

Bill Kristol from the Weekly Standard claims that two reliable sources have told him the Rudy Giuliani may very soon jump into the 2012 race. Kristol explains Rudy's reasoning as thus:

Rudy's theory of the race: In the fall of 2007, he decided he couldn't compete with both Mitt Romney and John McCain in New Hampshire, and disastrously decided to try to pull back there and pitch his tent in Florida. This year, he'll commit everything to New Hampshire, where he thinks he has a good shot at beating Romney—whom he criticized there earlier this week. He then thinks he can beat whichever more socially conservative candidate(s) is left by winning what are still likely to be winner-take-all primaries in big states like California, New York, and New Jersey.

Rudy's message: I'm tough enough to put our fiscal house in order and to protect us from enemies abroad. The U.S. in 2012 is in bad shape—like New York in 1993. The budget crisis is as severe—and seemingly intractable—as the crime/welfare crisis was in New York then. Rudy dealt with that when people said it couldn't be done. He'll deal with this.

Giuliani was my second choice in 2008, right after Fred Thompson went no where. I do believe him when he says he is tough enough to take on the heady challenges of 2012. Unfortunately, many of those challenges require someone with strong conservative principles to guide them in undoing the damage Obama and the Dems have made. I am not sure if Rudy fits that bill.

Furthermore, in 2008 many of the conservatives did not flock to Rudy because he has RINO qualities. In 2012, conservatives are even more dead set against RINOs. I just don't see how Rudy thinks he can over come that problem this time around.

I do think he has what it takes to knock off Romney, Pawlenty and definitely Huntsman, but I think Rudy with struggle mightily against conservatives like Palin, Cain and Bachmann. Especially against Palin and Bachmann who both have records of being every bit as tough as Rudy.

Given how unhappy so many Republicans are with the choices at hand, it still is possible for Rudy to make his case. Time will tell.

Via: Memeorandum
Via: The Weekly Standard

Rudy Giuliani tops CNN poll- Huh?

Washington (CNN) - Call it a sign of how unsettled the GOP presidential field remains: Two of the three people at the top of new national poll in the battle for the Republican nomination may not even run for the White House. And a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey also suggests that there is not a lot of enthusiasm about any of the major candidates.

According to the poll, which was released Friday, 16 percent of Republicans and independents who lean towards the GOP say they would most likely support Rudy Giuliani as their party's nominee. One point behind, at 15 percent is Mitt Romney, with Sarah Palin coming in at 13 percent. [MORE]

I find this poll rather surprising. Rudy Giuliani? Really? Perhaps the people polled think that since Giuliani turned New York City around, he might just be the man to turn America around.

Believe it or not, in 2008 Giuliani was my first choice (Thompson second and finally had to settle for Mitt). I picked him because I knew he would fight the War on Terror with gusto and he has no problem with making the biggest liberal crybabies twist in the wind. But that was 2008. The world is quite different now. I cannot see myself rolling the dice on anything but a true fiscal conservative. he

In the end, I don't see Rudy getting a campaign together and going for the gold off of this poll. The stakes are much higher that 2008 and the problems Rudy faced with the conservative base are even greater today.

Via: Memeorandum
Via: CNN

Rudy Giuliani won’t run for US Senate

From the New York Daily News: 

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani is expected to announce Tuesday he is not running for U.S. Senate or anything else in 2010, effectively ending his storied - and often stormy - electoral career, The Daily News has learned.

The announcement, at which he'll also endorseRepublican Rick Lazio for governor, marks the end of a year-long political dance by Giuliani, who mulled bids for governor and then Senate before backing away from both.

He had reason to weigh each run: surveys showed him a clear favorite to win primaries for either office, and as recently as last week a poll showed Giuliani crushing freshman Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand by 10 points.

But the former mayor has decided to stay in the private sector, where he will continue his work as a security consultant, a sometimes TV commentator and, increasingly, a celebrity draw on the GOP fund-raising circuit. MORE

I have detected a pattern of Rudy kind of chickening out on the big races. He did not square off against Hillary when she ran for senator. He totally botched up his front-runner status in 2008 GOP primaries, passed on running against the weak Democrat governor of New York  and now this.

Could it be that Rudy simply doesn’t want to tarnish is record with a possible loss? So many opportunities to run and win, yet he seems to duck out every time. What’s up with that?

Rudy is probably the only RINO I could support still. He is very squishy on social issues but is very firm fiscally. I also admire the way he made NY liberals twist in the wind throughout his two terms. Even Sharpton’s race baiting didn’t move Rudy. 

Rudy would be a RINO on the national stage, but he would be our RINO, one we could at least count on fiscally.  Too bad, he would have had my support.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The New York Daily News

Senator Giuliani?

The New York Daily News is reporting that there is a good chance that former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani may seek Hillary Clinton’s old NY Senate seat in 2010 now that he had decided against running for New York’s Governor.

From the New York Daily News: 

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani has decided against running for governor, but is strongly considering running for U.S. Senate instead, sources told the Daily News.

The Republican heavyweight was considered the GOP's best shot at reclaiming the governor's mansion. The only declared candidate on the Republican side is little-known former Long Island Rep. Rick Lazio.

 One source said Giuliani is prepared to run for U.S. Senate against Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand next year to fill out the remaining two years of Hillary Clinton's term. 

In a match up with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Rudy comes out on top by a whopping 14 points with about a third of Democrats saying they would vote for him.

I don’t know about this. Rudy is a RINO and the winds are changing against them.  However in a very blue state like New York that may not make a difference.

I wanted to vote for Rudy in the ’08 primaries, he was my second choice behind Fred Thompson. While Rudy was a RINO then too, I know he is a fiscal conservative and a strong chief executive.  I lived in NYC during his days as mayor and the turn around was stunning.

Today, I am not so sure I could support him. America is going to be on the brink in 2010. Can we afford to take a chance? What if he abandons his fiscal conservatism at the worst possible time?  If this was still ’08 and the Dems had not brought America to the brink of disaster I would feel very comfortable taking the chance, today not so much. The big question is will most New York conservatives feel the same way I do next year? Time will tell.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: New York Daily News