Giuliani Becomes First GOP Candidate To File For S.C. Primary

WCNC

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani paid $25,000 and filed paperwork Friday to become the first official participant in the early GOP primary here.

Good impressions of Rudolph Giuliani

By THOMAS P.M. BARNETT

With former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani consistently leading early polls for the Republican presidential nomination, pundits have spilled an ocean of ink concerning his electability. Having recently sat down with the man, let me tell you why I consider Giuliani a candidate wholly appropriate for our times.

ScrippsNews article

Rudy Giuliani Leads John McCain by More Than 2-to-1 in Race for Republican Nomination

ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is now the front runner by a wide margin in the race for the Republican nomination for the 2008 presidential election, even though the first primary elections will not take place until February 2008. Giuliani leads Senator John McCain by fully 39 percent to 18 percent among those who think they will vote in the Republican primaries or caucuses. Former Governor Mitt Romney (14%) and former Senator (and movie and TV star) Fred Thompson (13%) are not very far behind McCain. The only other candidate with more than two percent of Republican preferences is former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (9%). This Harris Poll surveyed 2401 U.S. adults online and was conducted by Harris Interactive(R) between April 3 and 16, 2007. This survey included 522 adults who expect to vote in a Republican primary or caucus and like all polls conducted well before an election, it should not be read as a prediction. Rather, it is a snap shot of the presidential "horse race", at a very early stage in the race. A previous column assessed the standing of the leading Democrats(1). Early in the survey, all adults were shown a list that included candidates in both major political parties as well as other Republican and Democratic leaders, and asked for whom they would consider voting. Among Republicans, Rudy Giuliani (59%) leads Colin Powell (46%), John McCain (40%), Condoleeza Rice (39%), Mitt Romney (37%), Fred Thompson (31%) and Newt Gingrich (29%). Among all adults, the rank order of Republican leaders is almost identical to the rank order among potential Republican voters. This is because none of the Republican leaders have exceptionally strong appeal among Democrats and Independents. At this time it seems that Republican candidates face an uphill battle against the Democrats. Overall 68 percent of all adults would consider voting for one of the listed Democratic leaders, compared to 59 percent who would consider voting for one of the Republicans.

$18 million

From the Congressional Quarterly:

Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has led the long list of 2008 Republican presidential contenders in early preference polls — and his perceived position as the front-runner, at least for now, was not contradicted by his recent campaign finance report, which shows he has already built a sizable treasury.

Giuliani’s campaign reported total first-quarter receipts of $16.6 million, which included a $1.85 million transfer from the presidential “exploratory” committee he established last November.

With total receipts of $18 million for his campaign to date, Giuliani leads all but three of the current crop of White House hopefuls — Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois, and Republican Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor — in overall campaign receipts.

Alert! Hillary's Huge Negatives Changing 2008 Race

By Dick Morris

There has been a sudden and highly significant shift in the Democratic Presidential race: Hillary Clinton is rapidly losing her frontrunner position to Barack Obama as her negative ratings climb.

According to the Gallup poll, most Americans don't like Hillary Clinton and the number of people who view her negatively has been steadily increasing ever since she announced her candidacy for President in January.

full article

Rudy vs. the enviros

By DEROY MURDOCK

As Earth Day dawns Sunday, Americans should consider the relationship between environmentalists and the former mayor of the capital of Earth. From New York's City Hall, Rudolph W. Giuliani successfully confronted green zealots while advancing science and technology. Here again, Giuliani stands well right of where his detractors might expect.

full story: ScrippsNews

Poll: New Jersey Voters Prefer New Yorkers Clinton, Giuliani

Poll: New Jersey Voters Prefer New Yorkers Clinton, Giuliani

2008 Republican Presidential Primary -Giuliani 33% McCain 19% Thompson 13%

Rasmussen | 4/17/07

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of the Republican Presidential Primary competition finds Giuliani at 33%, fourteen points ahead of McCain’s 19%. Thompson is still in third at 13% slightly ahead of Romney at 11%. For Giuliani, that’s his highest level of support in three weeks. It’s McCain’s best showing since early March. Last week, it was Giuliani 27% McCain 16% Thompson 14% and Romney 12%.

Giuliani Is a Refreshing Change

The Collegian Online | Jordan Ruud

Issues of Giuliani’s potential purely as a leader aside, how does he hold up as a candidate in the eyes of his own party?

According to a Cook Political Report poll from April 1, he draws the highest potential vote from Republicans nationwide: 34 percent of the potential vote, as opposed to John McCain’s 17 percent.

The poll was conducted prior to Giuliani’s emphatic championing of abortion rights and his acknowledgment that he would not try to overturn Roe vs. Wade.

“If I’m going to appoint strict constructionist judges, which I’m going to do, for the reason that they are going to strictly interpret the Constitution, then, as president, I have to be a strict constructionist,” Giuliani said during an April 5 news conference. “The present state of the law on these issues is not something that I would seek to change.”

SCOTUS upholds Partial Birth Abortion Ban

Here's an excerpt from the Associated Press article detailing the reactions to the SCOTUS decision from major presidential candidates:

Giuliani favors abortion rights and has drawn criticism for supporting public funding of some abortions. But he says he would appoint justices very similar to Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, President Bush's appointees. Both were part of the majority in Wednesday's ruling.

Giuliani said in a statement that he approves of the high court's action.

"The Supreme Court reached the correct conclusion in upholding the congressional ban on partial birth abortion. I agree with it," he said.

Giuliani Is the GOP's Only Hope

Politico | Brad Bannon

The conventional wisdom about presidential nomination campaigns is almost always wrong. And the pundits' dismissal of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani's bid for the Republican nomination will not improve their batting average. Even though Giuliani is way ahead of everybody in early primary polls, the experts are already writing Giuliani's obituary.

Giuliani Campaign Announces First Quarter Financials

The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee announced today a strong fundraising showing with a total of $11.9 million cash on hand – $10.8 million for the primary and $1.13 million for the general. The campaign reported total receipts of $16.6 million for the quarter and over $18 million for the cycle, including $14.7 million raised for the first quarter of the year and $1.85 million transferred from Friends of Giuliani. $13.6 million of the total first quarter contributions is in primary dollars.

JoinRudy2008.com

Zogby Poll: Giuliani, Clinton Hold Wide Leads in Nevada

Zogby Poll: Giuliani, Clinton Hold Wide Leads in Nevada
Audiocips available here

Giuliani leads Republicans with 37% support and Clinton tops Democrat rivals at 35% as other major candidates lag behind

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has surged to a double-digit lead over his Republican rivals, and Hillary Clinton enjoys a significant lead over her fellow Democratic challengers among likely Nevada caucus–goers, a new Zogby International telephone poll shows.

Hillary vs Rudy: A Religious War?

Christian Broadcasting Network | David Brody

If the 2008 presidential race comes down to Rudy vs Hillary, the past may tell us something about the future. The Brody File went back to March of 2000. Hillary and Rudy were running against each other for the U.S. Senate at the time. (Giuliani eventually had to pull out because of a cancer diagnosis) Anyhow, just to refrsh everybody's memories (or maybe you didn't know) Rudy sent an eight page fundraising letter to his supporters blasting Clinton's non-religiousity. Read below from the Newsweek article:

"As a republican moderate who supports abortion, gay rights and gun control, New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has to look hard for ways to woo the right wing. A fund-raising letter he sent out last October is a perfect case in point. In it, Giuliani attacked Hillary Rodham Clinton for her "hostility toward America's religious traditions" and portrayed her as a leader of a "left-wing elite" that has waged a "relentless, 30-year-war against America's religious heritage."

Clinton went beserk when she got word of the letter. Read on...and notice Giuliani's comments about the Ten Commandments:

"I am outraged that he would inject religion into this campaign in any form whatsoever," she said, adding later that she wants a campaign based on "ideas and issues, not insults." Confronted by Clinton's demand that he "take responsibility" for the fund-raising letter, he said, "Not only do I stand by the letter, I'd like everyone in New York state to read it." He went on to repeat that liberals like Clinton were wrong to prohibit public schools from posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms. When Clinton, campaigning upstate, replied that the Supreme Court had ruled such displays unconstitutional, Giuliani responded with humor. The next day he wrapped up a press briefing on the city budget with a slide of the Ten Commandments--and got a laugh."

Will Rudy go with the same strategy in 2008 if he's running against her? He might as well. As for the Ten Commandments in classrooms, Rudy seems OK with it. Interesting, isn't it?

My four pillars of American prosperity

By Rudy Giuliani

Washington needs a hefty dose of fiscal discipline. To restore accountable and effective leadership to America, government needs to run more like a business.

read the full article at Townhall.com

Southern conservatives give Rudy Giuliani a look

Staten Island Advance, NY SHANNON McCAFFREY, AP

LaGRANGE, Ga. -- You wouldn't expect the Rev. Mike Reeves to like Rudolph Giuliani much.

The conservative Baptist preacher from this city near the Alabama border is adamantly against abortion and gay marriage. Nonetheless, if he had to choose from the current Republican presidential candidates Reeves would pick the thrice-married former mayor of liberal New York, who supports abortion and gay rights.

"He's strong," Reeves said. "I think we need a president who's going to look our enemies in the eye and say, 'No more,' and they'll know he means it."

Rasmussen Poll: 2008 Republican Presidential Primary

Rudy Giuliani: 27%
McCain: 16%
Thompson: 14%
Romney: 12%

Giuliani Is Pleased to Oblige

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Rudy Giuliani will hold your baby, hug your dog, autograph your T-shirt and blow you a kiss. All in the space of 15 minutes.

I watch him do these things as he makes his way down Market Street in Charleston's famed Historic District, which on this bright and warm spring day is packed with tourists.

They call his name -- "Rudy! Rudy! Over here, Rudy!" -- and take his picture and, though often lacking both paper and pen (he will provide both), they ask for his autograph.

Politico article

Giuliani surmounts expectations in N.H.

By Rick Klein, Globe Staff

HAMPTON FALLS, N.H. -- The guests at Thomas and Ellen Christo 's home on New Hampshire's Seacoast on Monday night knew Rudolph W. Giuliani's history well -- his three marriages, his support for abortion rights, even recent news of a federal investigation targeting his former business partner and police commissioner, Bernard Kerik .

The CW About Rudy In Iowa Is Wrong

DES MOINES -- Let’s play with a jaunty bit of Conventional Wisdom that’s showing up in just about every article we’ve seen previewing ex-NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s trip to Iowa. It’s this: “ Can Giuliani win the favor of Iowa social conservatives who dominate the caucuses?”

Hotline blog article

Giuliani leads McCain in poll of California's GOP (40% strongly conservatives support him)

Mercury News | April 4, 2007 | Mary Anne Ostrom

The former mayor of New York leads Sen. John McCain by a 36 percent to 24 percent margin among the state's likely GOP primary voters, and is the choice of nearly four in 10 of those who say they are "strongly conservative."

Attorney General Bill McCollum to Serve as Giuliani Campaign Florida Chairman

The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Campaign today announced that Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum will lead the Mayor’s efforts in the state. The Mayor made the announcement in Tallahassee with the Attorney General and several members of the Florida State House who will be joining the Mayor’s Florida leadership team.

Poll: Giuliani leads in North Carolina

Edwards, Giuliani lead in North Carolina

On the Republican side, Rudy Giuliani leads with 30%, trailed by Sen. John McCain at 19% and Mitt Romney at 14%.

In North Carolina, a new Public Policy Polling survey shows Sen. John Edwards leading in his home state's Democratic presidential race with 39% support, followed by Sen. Hillary Clinton at 25% and Sen. Barack Obama at 20%.

2008 Republican Presidential Primary (Giuliani 26% McCain 16% Thompson 14%)

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) remains on top, but his support dips below the 30% mark for the first time in seven weeks. With Thompson in the mix, Giuliani’s support tumbles to 26%, down nine points from a week ago. That’s the lowest level of support measured for Giuliani in any Rasmussen Reports poll this year.

Nine Candidates Agree to GOP Debate

Nine GOP White House hopefuls will participate in a May 3 debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, an event hosted by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, in conjunction with MSNBC and The Politico.

Politico article

Giuliani Says Country Must Keep Up Fight Against Terrorism

NEW CASTLE, N.H. -- Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Tuesday that the country needs to stay on the offensive against terrorists.

The Republican presidential hopeful spoke at a breakfast with the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce. He said laws like the Patriot Act that allow electronic surveillance are necessary.

WMUR article

Giuliani To Media: Lay Off My Wife

WCBStv article