Lying To Make Friends

With the obvious caveat that this story is based on rumors from unnamed sources, if it does accurately reflect Giuliani’s thinking, there are a couple flaws with Rudy’s strategy.  For one, Giuliani was a terrible presidential candidate.  He started with a healthy lead in the polls, and went on to get double digits in only one state (Florida, where he spent far more time and money than his opponents but finished a distant third with 15%.)

Even if Giuliani thinks he can do better this time, it’s hard to see how running for statewide office in New York is a better launching pad than his current “Democrats want the terrorists to win” road show.  New York is a fairly liberal state, and winning statewide office would require Giuliani to emphasize his more moderate views on abortion and gay rights.  That won’t sit well with a Republican electorate that seems even more intent than in 2008 to emphasize ideological purity over electability.

If Giuliani does announce a run for the Senate (or governor), whoever his opponent is should make possible presidential aspirations a major issue and demand that Giuliani pledge, without any equivocation or wiggle room, to serve a full term.  Doing so would be more than political grandstanding.  Again, New York is a pretty liberal state, and I doubt its voters want a senator who, immediately upon taking office, will start casting votes to appeal to Republican primary voters in Iowa and New Hampshire (and Florida!)

-AR