Rudy Guiliani Quits the Race, Endorses McCain

How do you blow a huge lead in the Republican presidential primary in ninety days? Ask Rudy Giuliani. The former mayor of New York couldn't have lost the Republican nomination better if he had tried and while some might argue that he didn't try, it seems his attempt was misguided to say the least. He misjudged and completely miscalculated what some thought was a sure thing. In the Darwinian culture of politics, this might be a good thing. Who needs an arrogant, stubborn guy in the White House for another eight years?

In February 2007, polls had Rudy at 44% to McCain's 20%. Only a few months ago in November, he still held an astonishing 33% lead. America's Mayor, as he was known back in the good old days looked unbeatable. Yesterday, however Giuliani waved goodbye to his presidential bid and endorsed his former rival McCain.

Strategy or social issues. What really sunk Giuliani's campaign?

How did Rudy go from a twenty-two point lead to a 'throwing in the towel' speech in record time? At first glance, it seems his strategy to focus the campaign on big ticket states such as Florida, California and his own New York, at the expense of the smaller less sexy states was the obvious reason.

It cannot be ignored that Rudy's plan to campaign only in friendly states more in line with his socially liberal views was at the root of the problem. The conservative pocket of voters in smaller states must have felt the snub. Ignoring the small for the big backfired big time and when he came in a distant third in Florida this week, it was time to cut his losses before next Tuesday's primaries. Apparently the word momentum was foreign to Giuliani's' advisers. While the other campaigns were in the discussion, Rudy all but disappeared.

Rudy's obvious lack of advisers with any national campaign experience can not go unmentioned. He surrounded himself with a tight knit group of New York insiders, much like himself, who might have been unwilling or unable to challenge the mayor when he needed it most. "Voters are paying an inordinate amount of attention to this campaign,'' said Republican consultant Eddie Mahe, who isn't aligned with any campaign. "You cannot take yourself out of that river of communications and keep moving.''

Rudy and his advisers were overly confident and insular and while McCain, Romney, Huckabee and Paul were out kissing babies and shaking hands with the public, Rudy was notably absent. The fact remains, that losing, even in a small state is still loosing and winning is everything.

To know him is not to love him.

Another huge obstacle Rudy faced had to do with the fact that when people really got to know him as a candidate and a man, they didn't really like him. While his socially liberal New York City style views such as pro-choice, pro-gay marriage and pro-gun control, worked well in the Big Apple, it didn't fly in southern and mid western enclaves of evangelical Christians, who are a substantial power base of the Republican party. Richard Land, a leader of the 16-million- member Southern Baptist Convention, based in Nashville, Tennessee, said he couldn't vote for Giuliani or anyone else who backed abortion rights.
"If Giuliani is the nominee, there will be a third-party effort,'' Land said in an October interview with Bloomberg Television.

Even though Rudy said he would only appoint judges who would overturn Roe v. Wade, many Christians vowed to sit out the election in effect giving the Presidency to a Democrat who would likely be pro-choice. Voting their conscious was more of a motivating factor for devout Christians, an obstacle Rudy would not easily overcome even if he had campaigned harder. Republican consultant and politics professor David Woodard put it best saying, "You are talking southern states and a guy from New York on his third marriage. He is lively, quick thinking, good in debates, but he is just so different from the party base."

So, how did this scrappy New Yorker, who has survived cancer, divorce and disaster get as far as he did and where is he going? Giuliani is a man who has been able to capitalize on his stalwart showing as a leader after the New York 9/11 attacks. Good in a crisis and seemingly everywhere, Rudy became a hero, and graced the cover national magazines. But critics were quick to complain, that he took credit for things he had nothing to do with. He based his campaign on national security and the fight against terrorism. As luck would have it, the economy has gained momentum of the issue du jour among voters. His personal life was chaotic, to say the least and his business dealings have come into question. Rudy came with a lot of baggage. Something the Republican party has no room for.

This isn't to say Rudy is out. Throwing his support to front runner McCain was the logical thing to do. Rudy's parting words were heartfelt, "I'm proud that we chose to stay positive and to run a campaign of ideas in an era of personal attacks, negative ads and cynical spin."

Friend and front runner McCain will probably be the recipient of what was left of the Guliani supporters. Is there a position for Giuliani in a McCain cabinet? Absolutely. How does Attorney General Giuliani sound? For Rudy lovers, it isn't Mr. President, but it might be a great fit.