ADN

QUOTEFormer New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, known for his apt leadership after the attacks of September 11, 2001, took the first step toward a possible 2008 presidential bid by forming an exploratory committee.

Giuliani has not officially decided whether to run, said committee treasurer John Gross in a statement.

"We have taken the necessary legal steps so an organization can be put in place and money can be raised," Gross said. Paperwork filed with the department said the committee's purpose is "to conduct federal 'testing-the-waters' activities under the Federal Election Campaign Act."

Giuliani, 62, joins Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, chairman of the powerful House Armed Services Committee, as the only Republican to form an exploratory committee.

Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa formed an exploratory committee Thursday, making him the only Democrat to do so.

Federal election law allows an individual to travel and gauge the level of support without formally declaring his or her candidacy and being subject to federal fundraising rules, according to The Associated Press.Though there is strong support for his candidacy, Giuliani would be a controversial choice for the Republicans.

His moderate views on social issues like gay rights and his opposition to banning certain types of late-term abortions are likely to draw fire from religious conservatives.

Citing those political stances and Giuliani's past opposition to President Bush's tax cuts and to an increase in the minimum wage, the Democratic National Committee released a statement questioning whether Giuliani could "just explain away" his positions on issues dear to the conservative Republican base.

"Throughout his career Giuliani has tried to paint himself as a moderate, but now that he's vying for his party's nomination will he undergo an extreme makeover in an attempt to cozy up to the far-right?" Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney asked in the statement.

The survey, conducted October 27-29 by Opinion Research Corp., indicates 29 percent of Republican voters would "most likely" support Giuliani for their party's presidential nomination in 2008.

Runners-up included Sen. John McCain, with 27 percent, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, with 12 percent. The poll of 401 Republican leaning voters had a sampling error of plus or minus 5 percent.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/13/ ... index.html

Guiliani seems like a good enough candidate...I first learned of him when he was an attorney, kicking mafia ass...So, from one point of view, we know he's smart, and he certainly picked The City up on his shoulders after 9-11...

IMO, as good a candidate, Rep. or Dem., either way...

Isn't McCain like 231 years old..?

Not yet, but he will be by the election.

I could get behind Rudy. It would be intereesting to see what impact a republican candidate from the blue yankee states might have on the votes from those same states....

QUOTE(AYHJA @ Nov 15 2006, 07:19 AM) Guiliani seems like a good enough candidate...I first learned of him when he was an attorney, kicking mafia ass...So, from one point of view, we know he's smart, and he certainly picked The City up on his shoulders after 9-11...

IMO, as good a candidate, Rep. or Dem., either way...

Isn't McCain like 231 years old..?

this man is someone I like a great deal, and would love to see in office; as Vice President, or director of FEMA. He held New York together. He knows crisis. but I don't think he would be ideal for POTUS because he has no expererience controlling the military. then again Rudy was knighted in England, so he's got allegience to the throne. OH, snap!!! I am not sure, but that formal recognition of his service during the WTC attacks and the aftermath may have disqualified him from running, by the letter of the Constitution; no one with allegiance to a foreign throne, power, or entity can serve the People in the office of President. Dem or Repub, more than ever, we need a REAL veteran of war to lead us. and he has to have at least a macroeconomic and International Policy education OF HIS OWN.

1 man comes to mind - Stormin' Norman... the only other I know has had his career tarnished too bad, and that is Ollie North. We honesty need someone of that calibur for real; and while I think President Bush understood that, and tried to emulate it, I think he more than proved it is not something you can "fake until you make." You have it or you don't. We need someone who has actually said "move out and pound ground!" to living beings, not a coms tech. someone FROM the ranks who will stop this media nonsense from high-jacking the minds of Americana and filling it with garbage.

I feel sorry for people, they see a person in fatigues with dirt of themselves and believe that person is roughing in with roughnecks,.. when usually they drive out in a escort convoy from Baghdad, report, and go back to play yahtzee while nursing a bloody mary in the media quarters (i.e. a decent hotel in the green zone).