Script For A Giuliani v. Clinton Commercial

Cliff Thier lays out Rudy a Hillary's contrasting approaches in dealing with terrorists and their supporters.


Cliff forgot to include Mayor Giuliani's rejection of Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal's $10 million donation for the Twin Towers Fund after the prince suggested U.S. policies contributed to the September 11 attacks:

"To suggest that there's a justification for [the terrorist attacks] only invites this happening in the future," he said. "It is highly irresponsible and very, very dangerous.

"And one of the reasons I think this happened is because people were engaged in moral equivalency in not understanding the difference between liberal democracies like the United States, like Israel, and terrorist states and those who condone terrorism.

Rudy gets it.

Image credit: Associated Press

Californians Say Rudy Won

The pundits are wrong, A SurveyUSA of California debate watchers finds Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani convincingly won the California debate among Republican presidential candidates.

Giuliani was picked as the winner by 30% of those in CA who watched. Former Massachusetts Governor Romney was picked as the winner by 12%, and Arizona Senator McCain was picked as the winner by 11%. All other candidates were in single digits:

Who Won The Debate?

4% Brownback
8% Gilmore
30% Giuliani
4% Huckabee
7% Hunter
11% McCain
12% Romney
2% Paul
4% Tancredo
2% Thompson
16% Not Sure

Californians are much less engaged in the 2008 presidential campaign than are South Carolinians. One in three South Carolinians watched the Democratic debate, compared to one in eight Californians who watched the Republican debate.

This small number of adult Californians, who watched a Republican presidential debate nine months from the California primary and 18 months from the General Election, is unlikely to be a very reliable guide to California Republican primary voters. More information on the SurveyUSA poll results, or how the survey was conducted, is available here and here.

The California debate watchers think Giuliani has the best plan for Iraq and immigration reform:

20% of CA debate watchers say McCain has the best plan for Iraq, which was only slightly behind Giuliani, who was picked by 25% as having the best Iraq plan. [. . .] Giuliani was seen as having the best solution for immigration reform by 31% of CA viewers. No one else was close.

That is peculiar because I don't recall Giuliani saying much about Iraq during the debate.

McCain And Romney Win

That is my initial take after watching the Republican presidential debate at the Reagan Presidential Library last night.

McCain came out with guns blazing, effectively countering the growing perception that he is too old and tired to be president:

MR. MATTHEWS: Senator McCain, most of the public pessimism today has to do with Iraq. How -- what would you need, as commander in chief, to win the war in Iraq?
SEN. MCCAIN: I would need the support of the American people. I would need to be able to show them some success in Iraq, both on the battlefield as well as with the Maliki government.

We have a new general, we have a new strategy. That strategy can succeed. The young men and women who are serving are the best of America. I believe that if we could bring around -- about stability in the neighborhoods in Iraq and have the Maliki government govern, you are going to succeed.

My friends, when the majority leader of the United States Senate says we’ve lost the war, the men and women that are serving in Iraq reject that notion. And if we lost, then who won? Did al Qaeda win? When on the floor of House of Representatives -- they cheer. They cheer when they passed a withdrawal motion -- that is, a certain date for surrender, what were they cheering? Surrender? Defeat?

We must win in Iraq. If we withdraw, there will be chaos, there will be genocide, and they will follow us home.
MR. MATTHEWS: Do you need anything beyond what the president has now to win the war?
SEN. MCCAIN: Now I think it’s on the right track. The war was terribly mismanaged. The war was terribly mismanaged, and we now have to fix a lot of the mistakes that were made. Books have been written. But we have a new strategy and a new general, and these young men and women are committed to winning.

The transcript fails to convey the energy and emotion that McCain conveyed in this exchange. I'm sure the YouTube video of that exchange will be a plus for McCain.

Romney came across as smooth and polished, maybe so smooth some will find him slick. He should mess his hair or something. Romney's best shot was when Mathews asked him if the Roman Catholic Church should deny communion to pro-abortion politicians:

MR. MATTHEWS: Governor Romney, what do you say to Roman Catholic bishops who would deny communion to elected officials who support abortion rights?
MR. ROMNEY: I don’t say anything to Roman Catholic bishops. They can do whatever the heck they want. (Laughter.) Roman Catholic bishops are in a private institution, a religion, and they can do whatever they want in a religion. America --
MR. MATTHEWS: Do you see that as interference in public life?
MR. ROMNEY: Well, I can’t imagine a government telling a church who can have communion in their church. I can’t -- we have a separation of church and state; it’s served us well in this country.
MR. MATTHEWS: Okay.
MR. ROMNEY: This is a nation, after all, that wants a leader that’s a person of faith, but we don’t choose our leader based on which church they go to. This is a nation which also comes together. We unite over faith and over the right of people to worship as they choose. The people we’re fighting, they’re the ones who divide over faith and decide matters of this nature in the public forum. This is a place where we celebrate different religions and different faiths.

The main stream media is excoriating Giuliani for not appearing presidential, and even more so for his waffling on abortion. Giuliani had three shots at the abortion question last night. First, Matthews asked all the candidates, except Paul whether it would be good if Roe v. Wade is repealed:

MR. MATTHEWS: Time.

We now go to the next segment. We’re going to talk about values. Let’s go down the line on this, just like they did with the Democrats last week on some of these trickier calls, but they do have clear answers.

Starting with you, Governor. Would the day that Roe v. Wade is repealed be a good day for Americans?

[. . .]

MR. MATTHEWS: Mayor.
MR. GIULIANI: It would be okay.
MR. MATTHEWS: Okay to repeal?
MR. GIULIANI: It would be okay to repeal. Or it would be okay also if a strict constructionist judge viewed it as precedent, and I think a judge has to make that decision.
MR. MATTHEWS: Would it be okay if they didn’t repeal it?
MR. GIULIANI: I think that -- I think the court has to make that decision, and then the country can deal with it. We’re a federalist system of government, and states could make their own decisions.

Next, Matthews asked Rudy why he supports public funding of abortions:

MR. MATTHEWS: Let me get back to Governor -- Mayor Giuliani because I want to give you a chance on this. You became very well known for standing up against the use of public funds for what many people considered indecent exhibits at the Brooklyn Museum and places like that.

Why do you support the use of public funds for abortion?
MR. GIULIANI: I don’t. I support the Hyde amendment. I hate abortion. I wish people didn’t have abortions.
MR. MATTHEWS: So you’re not for funding at all?
MR. GIULIANI: I believe that the Hyde amendment should remain the law. States should make their decision. Some states decide to do it, most states decide not to do it. And I think that’s the appropriate way to have this decided.
MR. MATTHEWS: Should New York -- when you were mayor of New York, should they have been paying for -- the state should have been paying for --
MR. GIULIANI: That’s a decision New York made a long time ago, and New York --
MR. MATTHEWS: And where were you on that?
MR. GIULIANI: I supported it in New York. But I think in other places, people can come to a different decision.

A bit later, Giuliani had a third opportunity:

MR. MATTHEWS: That’s time, Governor.

Let me ask Mayor Giuliani, do you want to respond to this? Because it seems like across the room here there’s strong, unrelenting -- with the exception of Governor Gilmore -- an unrelenting pro-life position. You seem to have a nuanced position on this. Many people think you’re pro-choice. Could you define it in a couple of seconds?
MR. GIULIANI: Sure. This is a very, very difficult issue of conscience for many, many people. In my case, I hate abortion. I would encourage someone to not take that option. When I was mayor of New York city, I encouraged adoptions; adoptions went up 65-70 percent, abortions went down 16 percent.

But ultimately, since it is an issue of conscience, I would respect a woman’s right to make a different choice. I support the ban on partial-birth abortion, I support the Hyde amendment, but ultimately I think when you come down to that choice, you have to respect a woman’s right to make that choice differently than my conscience.

And I’d like to respond on spending if you (give me a little time later ?) --
MR. MATTHEWS: Okay, later. We’ll have to kill you now because it’s a red light.

I don't think Rudy's abortion answers hurt him as much as the pundits believe. Giuliani's position is closer to that held by most of the electorate, especially young voters. If Rudy is able to win the nomination espousing such views, he will be a more appealing candidate in the general election.

I thought Brownback and Huckabee distinguished themselves from the other "second-tier" candidates. However, I was completely taken aback when Matthews asked for a show of hands as to who did not believe in evolution and the two of them joined Tancredo raised their hands:

MR. VANDEHEI: I’m curious, is there anybody on the stage that does not agree -- believe in evolution?

(Senator Brownback, Mr. Huckabee, Representative Tancredo raise their hands.)

The remaining four candidates, Gilmore, Hunter, Paul, Tommy Thompson, along with Tancredo failed to distinguish themselves and remain also rans.

The Techie Vote

At the New York Sun Politics Blog, Ryan Sager posts that Hillary wins the Apple and Cisco primary, but Obama wins at Adobe, Google, Intel, and Microsoft. Republicans don't even rate:

Contributions listing Google as employer:
Clinton (D): 13
Obama (D): 22
Giuliani (R): 1
Romney (R): 0

Contributions listing Cisco Systems as employer:
Clinton (D): 22
Obama (D): 3
Giuliani (R): 3
Romney (R): 1

Contributions listing Microsoft as employer:
Clinton (D): 10
Obama (D): 18
Giuliani (R): 1
Romney (R): 5

Contributions listing Apple Inc. or Apple Computer as employer:
Clinton (D): 3
Obama (D): 1
Giuliani (R): 0
Romney (R): 1

Contributions listing Intel Corporation as employer:
Clinton (D): 1
Obama (D): 4
Giuliani (R): 0
Romney (R): 2

Contributions listing Adobe Systems as employer:
Clinton (D): 1
Obama (D): 3
Giuliani (R): 0
Romney (R): 1

Rudy Gains Conservative Support

Rudy Giuliani has polled very well since he has made his presidential ambitions clear. In a recent Quinnipiac University poll Giuliani does well in blue, red and purple states beating Clinton 48 - 43 percent, Obama 47 - 40 percent and Edwards 48 - 40 percent. Much can and will happen between now and the November 2008 presidential election. The electorate is fickle, just ask President Bush and his father.

Can Giuliani maintain his momentum as the front runner for the GOP presidential nomination? Will he be able to overcome video's like the one below which will appear on countless blogs and other websites?



Giuliani has plenty going for him. He is the U.S. attorney who decimated the Mafia. He turned New York City around with tax cuts, welfare reform, and tough-on-crime action. He became "America’s Mayor" for his post-9/11 leadership. Is that enough to overcome Giuliani's pro-choice, pro-gun control, and pro-civil unions positions and win the confidence of conservatives?

My esteemed RedState colleague Hunter Baker writes that Giuliani was well received at the Conservative Political Action Conference after announcing that former Solicitor General of the United States Ted Olson had joined his campaign. Olson's endorsement may not be enough by itself, but there is more.

Two days ago, Louisiana's conservative first-term Senator, David Vitter, also endorsed Giuliani:

"Obviously, I disagree with Rudy on some significant social issues, and these are very important to me and to many of the people I represent," Vitter said. However, he said, after numerous meetings with Giuliani, "it's very clear to me that he's not running for president to advance any liberal social agenda."

Vitter also said that he is convinced that Rudy will appoint the best federal judges of all the major candidates. Giuliani added he would do everything he could to "appoint judges who would interpret the Constitution rather than execute their own social policy." Vitter will serve as the Giuliani campaign’s southern regional director.

Today Roll Call reports the fiscally conservative Club for Growth has kind words for Giuliani, while making the group's distaste for McCain clear.

So far, Giuliani has run a smart campaign. Aptly described by Richard Miniter as "I-am-who-I-am," Giuliani's campaign is embracing Giuliani's mayoral record, rather than trying to hide from it.

Will this be enough to overcome conservatives reservations about Rudy's warts? It's a good start, but I still just can't get past that image of Rudy endorsing Democratic Governor Mario Cuomo for reelection over George Pataki.

D'Amato Backs McCain

Former New York Senator Alfonse D'Amato backs McCain for president over former New York Mayor Giuliani.

D'Amato remains close to Pataki. Maybe this is payback for Rudy endorsing Cuomo when Pataki won the governorship.

Initial Reactions To CPAC Poll Results

The results are in, Romney won this year's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), straw poll:

Romney 21%
Giuliani 17%
Brownback 15%
Gingrich 14%
McCain 12%
Other prospective 2008 nominees received less than 5%

Romney mounted a serious campaign to do well in the poll:

Romney flooded the convention with college-aged campaign workers — paying many of their registration fees and even busing some of them in and paying for their hotel rooms, according to a report in The New York Times — wearing blue Romney shirts, carrying posters for their candidate, and voting in the straw poll.

There are some interesting tidbits available about the CPAC attendees self-identification and how they voted.

Attendees who identified themselves as concerned primarily with reducing the size of government supported Romney and Giuliani essentially equally — 21% and 20% respectively.

Attendees concerned with "traditional values" preferred Brownback with 29% followed Romney at 22%, while Giuliani and McCain were tied at at 8%.

Giuliani led among national-security conservatives with 25% of their vote, followed by Mr. Romney with 21%, and Mr. McCain at 18%.

Giuliani is a highly acceptable second choice for those supporting other candidates. On a ballot combining attendees' first and second choices for the 2008 Republican nomination Giuliani came out on top:

Giuliani 34%,
Romney 30%
Gingrich 30%
Brownback 24%
McCain 20%

What does it all mean? Your opinion is as good as mine or that of anyone else. Remember that the poll is unscientific and there is still a year to go before the first 2008 primary votes are cast. Nevertheless, the straw poll results will help the top tier raise money - the life blood of the 2008 campaign. Other than that, the results provide bragging rights for the candidates and fodder for political junkies like us to ponder.

Here's my two cents on that score. Romney and Brownback get points for doing what was necessary to do well in the straw poll. Brownback can now be moved beyond the also rans, but continues to have difficulty with security voters for not supporting the revised Iraq strategy. McCain's campaign is in serious trouble and avoiding CPAC was a huge mistake. He should have attended and made his case.

What's your take?

From California Yankee.

Giuliani Files Statement Of Candidacy

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani officially joined the race for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination by filing a "statement of candidacy."

Giuliani set up an exploratory committee in November to test the waters.

Why would he file a statement of candidacy and let us read about it in the BBC?

Cross-posted from California Yankee.

Romney Forms Exploratory Committee

Now former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney filed paperwork yesterday to form a presidential exploratory committee:

"After talking to my family, I have decided to take this initial step of forming an exploratory committee in order to raise the resources and build the campaign organization required to pursue the highest office in our country," Governor Romney said. "I look forward to continuing to talk with the American people to determine the best way we can meet a new generation of challenges."
Romney "has not made a decision on when he will officially and formally declare his candidacy."

There are now 7 2008 presidential candidates that have formed exploratory committees:

Republicans:
Kansas Senator Sam Brownback
New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani
Arizona Senator John McCain
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney
Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson

Democrats:
Former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel
Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich
Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack

Giuliani To Organize Iowa

The Des Moines Register reports former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani plans to begin reaching out next week to Iowa's Republican caucus activists.

It's about time. Giuliani is playing catch up in Iowa. McCain has been much more active in Iowa than Giuliani in the past year, recruiting supporters and staff, many with ties to President Bush's 2000 and 2004 Iowa campaigns. Governors Romney and Pataki, have also been building Iowa campaign organizations.

Iowa caucus participants are traditionally conservative. Can a pro-choice Republican win there? Giuliani's supporters say his support of abortion rights and gay rights could appeal to moderate Democrats and disenchanted Republicans after thumpin' the Republicans received in the November election. I'm not so sure.

At Race42008, LJ posts that he is doubtful that Giuliani was really going to mount a serious run for the Presidency. Perhaps Giuliani's plans will resolve LJ's doubts.

Cross-posted from California Yankee.

Tapping President Bush's Contributors

Senator John McCain has tapped President Bush's network of campaign contributors more productively than have Rudy Giuliani or Mitt Romney.

Now that McCain has created a presidential exploratory committee he is able to directly raise money for a possible presidential campaign. Using his political action committee, McCain raised more than $1.4 million from 640 of Bush's 2004 donors across 40 states.

That is almost triple the $505,999 Giuliani and the $542,300 Romney have collected from former Bush donors using their political action committees.

Giuliani Fundraiser Disappoints

Rudolph Giuliani launched his presidential money hunt Monday night in Manhattan.

Giuliani's campaign refused to say how much the $2,100-a-ticket cocktail party at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square was expected to generate, but attendees said the event appeared to fall short of the 500 tickets needed to raise $1 million. According to Newsday, several Republicans said $1 million would have been a realistic goal for Giuliani's fundraiser.

Fellow presidential wannabe, John McCain, upstaged Giuliani's fundraising event by announcing a 57-member New York finance committee that includes Jets owner Woody Johnson; billionaire financier Henry Kravis; and Henry Kissinger.

Romney Organizes South Carolina

Massachusetts Republican Governor Mitt Romney has assembled an impressive organization in South Carolina:

Romney's paid staffers in the Palmetto State include powerful Republican operatives Warren Tompkins and George Ramsey, former Republican Governors Association aide Nick Breeding and Greenville fundraising consultant Leslie Gaines.

He also has several others on his side, including Terry Sullivan, who served as U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint's campaign manager in 2004.Tompkins, Ramsey and Sullivan alone have a formidable resume in Republican politics, and all of them supported President George W. Bush's efforts here in 2000.

According to the Herald-Journal, Tompkins is having as much fun as he did working managing Ronald Reagan's 1980 South Carolina campaign. Tompkins says Romney's faith will help in South Carolina, despite theological differences.

The bigger hurdle for Romney will be to convince RedStaters that he is conservative, even though he is in charge of the heavily Democratic, liberal, and tax laden Massachusetts. If McCain and Giuliani split the more moderate Republicans, Romney may have his way with more conservative Republicans.