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| Giuliani considering 2008 presidential run |
| 2006-07-13 |
| BALTIMORE - Former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani said he is "seriously considering" a run for president in 2008. But he reiterated, as he has in many campaign-style appearances, that he was focused on the 2006 midterm elections. He said he would continue to travel the country to gauge the breadth of his support and his ability to raise the money needed for a presidential bid. "Eventually, when you make the decision, you have to go through a kind of soul-searching about how much you think you can bring to it," Giuliani said. Giuliani and Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich hailed each other as fellow moderates Wednesday, and Giuliani said Ehrlich has provided the kind of leadership that states around the country need. Speaking to reporters at a fundraiser for Ehrlich's re-election bid, Giuliani said he has been a longtime supporter of Ehrlich and admires his commitment to fiscal discipline. "This is the kind of governor we need throughout the country," Giuliani said. "There are a lot of states that need this kind of leadership." Without specifically addressing Giuliani's presidential ambitions, Ehrlich said the former mayor would be a very strong candidate if he were ever on the ballot in Maryland. "Philosophically, his views are in the mainstream of where Maryland is," Ehrlich said. "Clearly, there's a lot of compatibility with my views on a variety of issues." With supporters paying $4,000 a ticket, Wednesday's reception at a downtown Baltimore hotel collected at least $500,000 for Ehrlich's campaign. Donors posed for pictures with Giuliani and the governor. The event capped a three-day fundraising blitz that also brought Giuliani to Ohio, Arkansas, Illinois and Pennsylvania. He's following a path typically trod by potential candidates, who often campaign for their party's nominees or make appearances in states critical to a presidential bid. Pennsylvania, Illinois and Ohio are considered key battleground states in 2008. In Maryland, where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1, Ehrlich is running what appears to be a tight race against Democrat Martin O'Malley, the popular mayor of Baltimore. Ehrlich and Giuliani disputed a claim by O'Malley's campaign spokesman that they took different positions on Dubai's aborted bid to run six U.S. ports, including Baltimore's. Both said they thought the deal had the potential to make U.S. ports safer, but that it was handled the wrong way politically by the Bush administration. Giuliani needled the mayor for bringing up the Dubai ports deal. "I think that's been over for about six months now," Giuliani said, drawing laughter from the crowd. "I would think for the people of Maryland, what you can do about your schools, what you can do about the kind of crime that's in Baltimore, I would think that maybe a little more focus on that might help." Giuliani is notable for breaking with GOP orthodoxy on many issues, including abortion rights and gay rights, both of which he supports. Ehrlich also has positioned himself as a moderate on such issues, bolstering his efforts to court Democrats much as Giuliani did in New York. "You can't get elected in New York City nor in Maryland without doing that," said Bo Harmon, Ehrlich's campaign manager. Giuliani acknowledged that in a presidential bid, he would have to rally supporters in states where voters have more conservative leanings. He believes, though, that he could have a broad appeal. "Sure, there are divisions between red states and blue states, but Americans are more similar than they are different," Giuliani said. |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #16 Rudy is strong, but my social conversative leanings track with George Allen. As for Condi, I don't know how much of the Foggy Bottom water she is drinking. Hand shakes and grin sessions don't do much for me. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-07-13 22:41 |
| #15 SM: I'm with you on the 2nd amendment. I believe it's something we can restrain him on, but if not, I'm with you |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-07-13 21:53 |
| #14 Frank- I've been reading your posts for years & have a great deal of respect for your views as well as your sense of humor. But unless Giuliani renounces his often repeated support for gun control he will not get my vote. He canÂ’t just skirt the issue either - he has to renounce his former actions. Which he wonÂ’t. So if the Democrats run Bill Richardson or the former governor of Virginia (I canÂ’t remember his name off hand) then, under the circumstances, I will vote Democrat for the first time in my life. IÂ’ll wager that litterally millions of other Americans will do the same. IÂ’ve been down in the 2nd Amendment trenches for way, way to long to do otherwise. WhatÂ’s the point of saving America if in the end we cease to be Americans? |
| Posted by: Secret Master 2006-07-13 21:43 |
| #13 I'd still like to see Rudy stiffen up on social issues. We're not NY. Wearing a Yankee hat and pledging gay or illegal alien (a la the current mayor) rights will NOT win us over. Tell us what you'll do to protect America, get on teh hook re: domestic promises to preserve th ebase, and I'll go with Rudy. I'd still like to see some competition from Allen or others on the right to make Rudy commit to our isses domestically... or be a better candidate. I'm not sold on Rudy or Condi. I'd prefer Bolton |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-07-13 21:27 |
| #12 I'm with BH6 on this one. A lot could happen in the next 2 years (heck a lot's happenin' in the next 2 days). Rudy gave Arafish the cold butt-cheek and I'd imagine he'd have even more to say to Hamas and Hezbollah, much less Iran and Syria. The next few weeks could very well swing voting the Repubs way a LOT in November too. What a ticket...Guiliani/Rice in '08. |
| Posted by: BA 2006-07-13 21:21 |
| #11 I'd take Giuliani over McCain. Though I need to learn more about Allen and Romney. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2006-07-13 20:59 |
| #10 Damn Frank! Tell us how you feel! Like I said, would win by a landslide. My vote would go to him. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-07-13 20:49 |
| #9 SM- I'm afraid we won't have the convenience to focus on domestic issues in '08. If that's the case, I'd much rather Giuliani than McCain (a closet press-loving Donk and narcissist). Rudy would kick ass, tell the UN to f*&k off and join with Israel and India in taking down our enemies. He doesn't suffer fools and will not accept less than America's security |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-07-13 20:20 |
| #8 Tony- For various domestic political reasons I will never vote for Giuliani, but I have to admit that if he runs he will probably win. The man is very sharp. |
| Posted by: Secret Master 2006-07-13 19:12 |
| #7 Thanks for that NS, it's nice to know that I haven't got it completely wrong! |
| Posted by: Tony (UK) 2006-07-13 16:12 |
| #6 Tony, he sways like a guy who's had two too many drinks. He really doesn't have much political alliegence, even for an American. Whatever works best for him at the moment. That's why I would be surprised if the got the nomination. Republicans would rather a Dole than a McCain. The independent run with Lieberman or Zell Miller is his best bet. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-07-13 15:44 |
| #5 I wonder what the Democrats would do if Condi ran as the veep? A black woman who has made her own way in the world without (as far as I know) calling up the politics of victimhood. I think they would have a collective aneurism! I've never been able to figure McCain - am I right in thinking he seems to sway from Republican to Democrat politics and back again? |
| Posted by: Tony (UK) 2006-07-13 15:38 |
| #4 Guiliani has to be considered a front-runner, if he opts to throw his hat in the ring. Senators John McCain (boo) and George Allen, Governor Mitt Romney (Mass) are front-runners IMHO. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-07-13 15:13 |
| #3 Who are the front-runners for the GOP in the 2008 election? |
| Posted by: Tony (UK) 2006-07-13 15:06 |
| #2 Not sure Guiliani is gonna win over us social conservatives. He is a serious prospect, however. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-07-13 15:04 |
| #1 If Rudy and Condi ran it would be a landslide! |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-07-13 14:37 |